Care package carted south
Charlottetown man takes shoes, supplies to Peruvian children
Tiger Melhem was ready to be made a chump by a child.
The Charlottetown bus driver was on vacation with his brother in Peru five years ago when a barefoot boy approached the Melhem siblings.
The boy asked for money to buy shoes.
Melhem handed the young lad $ 30 in American cash even though he felt the last thing the money would be spent on was a pair of shoes.
Out of curiousity, Melhem and his brother followed the boy at a distance to see if indeed he would, as stated, buy shoes to place on his bare feet. That is exactly what the boy did.
Melhem, a native of Lebanon, was pleasantly surprised.
“It was unbelievable for a young boy to buy shoes instead of toys or whatever,’’ he said.
The bus driver soon set his mind on one day returning to the same village located in Iquitos, the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest.
He boarded a flight in Charlottetown Wednesday for the beginning of 13 1/ 2 hours of air travel.
Melhem is not travelling light. He has spent the past year on a special project he has called Help a Kid Wear Shoes in Peru.
Friends, co- workers and local business bought in. Donations of goods piled up.
So Melhem heads to Peru carting a large hockey bag, a large suitcase and two large carry- on bags. Inside the bags are 150 pairs of shoes for children ages two to 15, 100 T- shirts, 100 toothbrushes, 100 scribblers, 100 erasers and sharpeners, among other items.
Schools are awaiting his arrival with the impressive care package.
“Everybody thinks I am crazy going alone but it’s very exciting and I am looking forward to it,’’ said Melhem.
“It’s just a peaceful place, the most peaceful place in the world.’’
He says there is no crime to speak of but the people are terribly poor. Many children lack many basics. He wants to make a little dent.
Melhem adds his biggest supporter is his wife, Julie.
“She is my backbone.’’