Dream Invest Grow: 2026

Plans are underway for a trip with DIG in February 2026

Want to join us? Come find out more at an information session
Sunday April 6th after church in the Fireside Room.

Why DIG? / What is DIG?

 Dream Invest Grow

DIG aims to end the cycle of poverty and malnutrition in rural Guatemala through community empowerment. DIG’s humanitarian volunteers work on sustainable projects that build long-term dignity and hope within these communities by offering a hand up instead of a hand out. With a focus on community well-being, DIG provides education opportunities for Mayan youth, medical services for families, and sustainable farming and nutrition systems for entire towns. DIG works alongside Mayan community members at the ground level to determine long-term solutions. Through DIG’s purposeful travel programs, volunteers can create unforgettable personal experiences while making a long-term impact on these communities.

DIG is run by Geoff and Rita Doppenberg, the son of Bill and Leny Doppenberg, brother of Judy Van Geest and cousin of Mike Huinink and Dan Huinink. They are on a humanitarian mission to help the Mayan people. (Humans Helping Humans).

Plans are under way for some FUNdraisers! Mark your calendar and join us!

June 14th - BBQ and Corn-Hole Tournament

September 13th - Car Wash

October 4th - Dinner

Date for Paint Night, Urn Workshop and others events to to come…

DONATE:

We hope to have a team of 25 people to join is for DIG 2026. The funds we are raising are to offset the cost of this trip and pay for the materials used for the work being done in Guatemala e.g. Smokeless Stoves.

You can donate to help the group or a specific individual (options 2 or 3).

Donate through the Bridge App (GROUP ONLY).

Look for “DIG - Guatemala Mission” in the list of charities.

DONATE via e-Transfer (Group or Individual)
Step 1: Please send the e-Transfer to: treasurer@mountainviewcrc.org. Please indicate DIG in the text box, if you are donating towards a specific person, please add that person’s name eg. DIG-John Doe

Step 2: Please fill out the following form or send us an email with your name, and address. This will allow us to make the deposit and provide you with a tax receipt for your donation.

DONATE via Cheque (Group or Individual)

Step 1: Make cheque out to ‘Mountainview CRC’. Please indicate DIG in the comment/memo line, if you are donating towards a specific person, please add that person’s name Eg. ‘DIG - John Doe’

Step 2: mail or drop off cheque to Mountainview Church, 290 Main St. E., Grimsby, ON L3M 1P8

One of the biggest projects DIG is working on is smokeless stoves. Imagine having an open fire in your living room that you need for cooking and for heat. This is what many Mayans rely on, and it has resulted in profound levels of respiratory illness and deforestation.  DIG’s smokeless stove program has resulted in a 95% reduction of respiratory illness, and what used to be a 1 day supply of firewood now lasts 2 weeks!

Every family who receives a smokeless stove also receives a Galcom solar powered audio Bible and radio fixed tuned to our local Christian Radio station (Presencia 101.1)  to help spread the Word of God as many can’t read in Guatemala. 

To learn more about DIG check out their website www.dreaminvestgrow.org

“What can we bring to help?”

Please note that we have a very strict policy of ABSOLUTELY NO HAND-OUTS. We know your heart is in the right place, but we ask that you trust our experience that shows that handing people things for free does not empower them. In fact, it belittles them and fosters a sense of dependency. Books like “When helping hurts” or movies like “Poverty Inc.” explain this at length. Even in cases of extreme emergency we will provide food or medicine to people in need, but we do ask that they “pay it forward” in some way.... If you really want to do something, we highly suggest the following:

1) Collect money from friends and family to help our work. Or collect money and we can go shopping when you are here to buy supplies. School supplies like pencils, notebooks, pens, pencil crayons (coloured pencils for you Americans), erasers, etc are all in huge demand here. Purchasing things here (as opposed to bringing them from home) is cheaper and helps the local economy.

2) If you really want to collect items... collect the above school supplies. Other things we always need are medicines- acetaminophen (Tylenol), gravol (dramamine), children’s tylenol, ibuprofen (advil), Naproxen (Aleve), Benadryl liquid (children), Benadryl tablets (adult), Children’s vitamins (iron free), women’s prenatal vitamins, iron supplements for women, tums or other antacids, antihistamines (Claritin), baby formula powders, baby bottles, etc.

3) Children do love stickers and it’s fun to colour with them so, stickers, colouring books and crayons/coloured pencils/paints are always welcome.

4) The Doppenberg family always appreciates when people bring us treats, we cannot get here.... Chocolate bars (candy bars), candy, brown sugar, spices, gluten free flour.