Wings of Refuge Soars from Infancy to Adulthood

Approximately three years since its creation,Wings of Refuge (WOR) will host a spring benefit dinner on April 9 to showcase how far the organization has come in such a short time. The non-profit group was co-founded by New Milford native Alexa DeMiglio in May 2011 to help construct a children's home in Petionville, Haiti.

DeMiglio, who attends Powerhouse Christian Church in Wyckoff first ventured to Haiti in January 2011 and has returned 10 times since then. While there she met Pastor Roger Wilson Charles, a Haitian minister who has planted six Christian churches in the country that’s primary religion is voodoo. Wilson shared his ideas for the children's home with her on an empty property and since then Wings of Refuge was founded and has continued to grow.

"Wings of Refuge is a children's home for 20 kids," DeMiglio said. "They are not orphans anymore because we are their family. We know these kids, have plans for them."

The benefit, which begins at 6pm, will feature raffles, trick-tray, an information table about WOR and a boutique of hand-crafted Haitian items. But the biggest focus of the night will be sharing with guests how much progress has been made over the last few years in Haiti.

"The point of the night is to celebrate how far we've come and asking people to come alongside as we move forward," DeMiglio said. "We're doing great things and want people to be a part of it, whether it's signing up for our newsletter, coming on a trip, volunteering for a few hours each week or giving a financial donation."

The evening will be capped off with the release of WOR's new website and it's first professional video created by New Milford High School 2002 graduate Jay Eagleson.

"Jay came down with us in January and shot a ton of footage and photography," DeMiglio said. "All of which will be displayed at the benefit and he will talk about his experience traveling down there. The benefit will be a night full of new and firsts."

DeMiglio's committment to WOR will continue long after the April benefit as she will leave New Milford for a six month trip in mid-May to Haiti to assist Pastor Wilson at the children's home and help coordinate with other Haiti non-profits and the community at large.

"Wings of Refuge is the beacon and the light spreads out the rest of the way," DeMiglio said. "My trip will focus on connecting Wings of Refuge with other non-profits in Haiti and the community at large around the home."

DeMiglio and fellow Haiti Team traveler Theresa Brotherton, of Mahwah, held a fundraising dinner for Wings of Refuge at the Brick House in Wyckoff in March 2011. A benefit concert was held last year in Bergenfield with the help of River Edge resident Amanda Walker and Haiti Night fundraisers have also been held at the DeMiglio family restaurants Jersey Boys in New Milford and Sanducci’s in Oradell.

For more information on the April 9 Benefit Dinner at the Rockleigh Country Club, contact DeMiglio at info@wingsofrefugehaiti.com or pre-order your tickets here. Tickets are $65 per person.