Operation DREAM - Anonymous Extraordinaries

Anonymous extraordinaries are people who strongly believe in something and they work selflessly and vigorously to support that cause. They are people who are motivated by conviction and not recognition. They are people doing whatever they can for what they believe in, single-mindedly as a group without a care about who is watching.

They are people like the Operation DREAM team! We had our Pack and Stack party on January 5, 2013, the conclusion of our missions from October through December 2012. We packed all the cans into big boxes to be sent to Haiti and the DR. The founders, the Olivo family, came over too! George, Argie, Karin, Daniel and their friend Robin were all present.

This year we have collected 14 boxes of canned food, each box about 100 pounds, triple of what we collected in the year of 2011.

Operation DREAM’s mission is to help Haiti and Dominican Republic orphans not only in body, but spiritually as well. Another part of their mission is to help people to DREAM big, to empower youth to become leaders. We also inspired other people as well – not only the people who donate cans, but those who are wondering what in the world are these kids doing outside on a Saturday afternoon be it rain or shine. It’s a great feeling to know that one’s actions make a difference a world away.

Throughout these nine group missions, by going door-to-door around the neighborhood, organizing school and church food drives, God has truly shown us His blessings and favor. Even when the odds were stacked against us, He multiplied the canned food just like He did in the Bible story of the five loaves of bread and two fish. Our God is an awesome God!

Every week, I could see the growth in my team members. They boldly stepped out of their comfort zone and lead younger children as well. A couple of my team members shared their stories of how Operation DREAM had impacted them.

“It’s really cool to see how people will go out of their way to help these kids that they don’t even know,” said Miriam, age 14.

Melody Hsu, age 13, reflected back on the missions. “It’s great knowing that when people donate cans, you’re not doing this for yourself, you’re doing it for others.”

“Last year I was just a follower,” explained Belinda Lee, age 16. “But this year I knew I had to step up as a leader, and instead of having my close friends about the same age in my group, I found myself with all the younger kids. I realized I had to set a good example for them.”

Belinda turned missions into a fun competition to encourage her younger team members.

George Olivo, the President of Operation DREAM, spoke about God’s ultimate plan and how we bring hope to the orphans.

“For these kids, these canned food are an answer to prayer,” said Olivo. “Many people ask, ‘Why doesn’t God feed these people?’ He helps those people by giving people like us extra so that we can share. The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough food in the world – there’s enough food for every man and woman to have three meals a day. God allows us to share what we have with the less fortunate people. Some people ask, ‘Well why doesn’t God give enough to everybody? Then we won’t have this problem!’ Then we would all miss out on the blessings of not only giving but receiving as well.”

Even though the Operation DREAM team is made up of anonymous extraordinaries, those who have completed the minimum of ten hours were recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation for making a difference in door-to-door hunger relief campaign. One can make a difference. Every act counts. Kindness is contagious.

Thank you team for your hard work, thank you parents for supporting us from day one, and thank you Olivo Family for everything that you've done! And thank you Walnut, Diamond Bar, Rowland Heights, Chino Hills residents for your kind generous donation of canned food.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” 
― Aesop

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
- Proverbs 22:9