St George, San Antonio Builds a Chain of Love

Valentina and Luciana Flores, second and first grade students at St. George Episcopal School in San Antonio, made history when they pushed over that first domino to start off the twentieth edition of the Chain of Love that has made a different world for a remote Haitian Episcopal Church and School.

St. George’s long running Chain of Love began as a chapel illustration demonstrating how one act of love can set off a chain reaction which could reach beyond space and time.  Jennnifer Wickham’s chapel homily took form in a large chain of dominos representing money raised to help people in need all over the world.

One domino, one dollar, at a time the Chain of Love grew, and twenty years later a grand total of $409,350 has been raised!

In the first few years, funds were disbursed to a number of mostly global entities.  Soon after the Chain of Love began, St George School entered into the Haitian school partnership through the National Association Episcopal of Schools (NAES).  Partnered with St Benoit Episcopal Church and School, St George and the Chain of Love began to quickly change lives.  Eventually, all the proceeds from Chain of Love were sent to Haiti.

Significant structural needs were identified, and building by building St. Benoit was able to carry out its mission in a growing number of classrooms. A kitchen was constructed to feed the students.  Outdoor latrines were built to facilitate sanitation and overall health.

Eventually, funds were used to build a new worship facility that would serve as a place of prayer in the center of town.

Water wells deep enough to draw up clean, fresh water were built on the church grounds.  Refurbished laptops were sent to St. Benoit to support efforts at enhancing computer skills and recently a computer lab has been opened.

Funds from this year’s Chain of Love effort exceeded $29,000 and will help to support a solar project which will provide a round-the-clock, uninterrupted supply of electricity; the installation of Starlink Internet and the construction of three more classrooms as St. Benoit looks to open a ninth grade.

All those who are connected to the St. George Community, parish and school, are invited to support the Chain of Love. The communal effort is a visual reminder of the power of connectedness and working together towards a common mission.

The Chain of Love is a student service project that brings together many skills and supporters.  Students design and build various domino designs which eventually are interconnected and cover a basketball court.  Students apply to be part of Team Domino and are responsible for marketing, fundraising and other support roles. Additionally, a Haitian-styled market day, Le Marché, allows for Lower School and Middle School students to create business plans and sell their products.  All proceeds go towards Chain of Love. This year’s Le Marche raised over $14,000.

This partnership, through emails, prayers and donations, has been deeply meaningful to both the St. George and St. Benoit Communities.  While travel to Haiti has not been possible, the leadership of St. Benoit and St. George remains in regular communication throughout the year.  The annual Chain of Love Domino Event still stands as a vivid illustration of how we are all connected to each other, even across great distances.