Ohio to Costa Rica: Global Nomad's mission of hope

While it may be physically impossible to stretch a helping hand from Ohio to Costa Rica to help those in need, a local group of citizens is willing to be that hand.

The team members of Global Nomad U.S. recently made a commitment to serve families in need in Costa Rica, having made a trip there to provide food, shelter and love.

Now they are preparing for their return venture.

Global Nomad will host a fundraiser during an all-day event at Harvest Ridge near Millersburg on July 26 that is designed to aid homeless families in Costa Rica. This fundraiser includes a pickleball tournament, auction, meal and live music by Countyline Band.

The event will feature 10 women’s and 10 men’s pickleball teams, with the entry fee set at $150 per team and play beginning at 8 a.m. There will be two different meals available, one being Junior Schlabach’s barbecue chicken plus sides and the other being an authentic Nicaraguan/Costa Rican meal of pork, rice and beans, flour tortillas, and vegetable cabbage coleslaw. There will be 100 of those meals available at a suggested donation of $30 per meal. Countyline Band will play at 6:30 p.m. with the auction taking place at 4 p.m.

The team spearheading the fundraiser is a group of locals who went on a mission trip at the end of April for Global Nomad, a nonprofit organization based in Costa Rica. Global Nomad builds homes for people in need in Costa Rica, and the members were so moved by the experience they wanted to continue helping.

“We were able to raise money for the materials of the home we built right here in Ohio,” team member Leah Schonauer said. “The group members are all Holmes County locals, and many of us are members at 9:24 CrossFit outside of Berlin.”

For the members what began as a simple desire to serve quickly became a life-changing experience, for both the volunteers and the local families they encountered on the trip.

Irene Burgett, co-owner of 924 CrossFit and board member of Global Nomad, said the hope is to invite others to experience that same passion and blessing through becoming a part of the Global Nomad U.S. team, even if they don’t travel to Costa Rica.

“This event and our effort are about finding people here who feel that God has placed this mission on their hearts,” Burgett said. “It’s about inviting people to partner with us in helping those who are less fortunate.”

Burgett said while there are many incredible nonprofits in this area reaching the needy, she hopes this provides an opportunity for people to evaluate if sharing their blessings here can bless the less fortunate in Costa Rica.

“These efforts are part of a larger vision to bring lasting transformation to vulnerable communities, especially in areas where poverty and lack of housing are daily realities,” Burgett said.

To help sustain this mission and expand its reach, the team behind Global Nomad launched Beans of Hope, working with Pioneer Coffee Roasters out of Dalton, a specialty coffee company created to support housing projects, community kitchens and other social initiatives, not only in Costa Rica, but also around the world.

“Every bag of coffee helps fund the dream of a better future for someone in need,” Burgett said.

What makes this story more special is the connection between two worlds, where caring people in Ohio and Costa Rica have united, tied together by a shared desire to serve.

“The impact of the trip goes beyond pieces of wood and nails,” Burgett said. “It is a testimony of faith in action, of communities coming together and of the powerful things that happen when we say yes to helping others.”

Global Nomad will accept donations for the auction until July 19, including gift cards, gift baskets, furniture and more.

The local organization has already made steady inroads in bringing on board local sponsors, with the hope of this event bringing more sponsors into the fold.

Global Nomad is seeking monthly partners to meet operational needs. To learn more, visit Global Nomad U.S. on Facebook or call Burgett at 330-473-8094.