Doing Good: Family Friend Inspires Village Twins to “Share the Shirts Off Their Backs”

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Twin sisters Hope and Kellie Brussel of Ridgewood, NJ, have known Patty Alvarado since they were just a few weeks old. Patty, a close family friend, was always there for the girls, whose mom, Patricia, already had her hands full with three-year-old twins when Kellie and Hope arrived.

In fact, the entire Brussel family knows Patty would give them the shirt off her back, so Kellie and Hope decided to respond in kind. A few years ago, the teens began sharing their outgrown soccer jerseys and equipment with Patty’s relatives in Central America. Their project quickly grew into Smiles for San Juan, Patty’s hometown.

“Patty is from San Juan, El Salvador, where so much is needed, so we started sending our outgrown athletic gear like shin guards, backpacks, books, and school supplies,” Kellie explained.

At first, the donations went directly to Escuela San Juan de Pestantes, the school Patty’s young son was attending at the time. Other friends soon pitched in, donating pens and pencils for young students in El Salvador. The Brussels began by shipping two boxes a year. Over the next four to five years, the students’ needs changed, and the twins and their allies started to collect and ship age-appropriate books, educational games and puzzles, and reusable water bottles.

At one point, an entire Salvadoran boys’ soccer team was sporting the Brussel name on each and every one of their jerseys. Jerseys emblazoned with the nickname “Sprout” (the term of endearment both of the twins picked up when they were born at Valley Hospital) also showed up in San Juan.

“We wore those jerseys for a Father’s Day Soccer Tournament,” Kellie said with a smile.

The twins were overjoyed to receive thank you messages from the boys.

“It’s so heartwarming,” Hope said. “I think about how much we have and how much they appreciate the items being sent. It’s an opportunity to give back.”

During the past few years, Hope and Kellie have arranged for multiple boxes filled with donated items to be shared with students in El Salvador. Working together (the power of multiples), they organize needed items, and gratefully accept funding to cover shipping costs. Patty herself has been key to the effort in terms of shipping logistics.

Kellie and Hope even arranged to send a computer to Patty’s son, Andrew, so they could video chat. It was a magical moment when Patty and Andrew saw each other after many years of separation. A few years afterward, Andrew made the trip to the United States to visit his mother and the Brussels.

Communicating with Andrew was not an issue for the twins. They picked up Spanish from Patty, and toggle from English to Spanish in a heartbeat.

Now that the twins are about to begin their senior year at Ridgewood High School, they are looking to the future.

“This is something we will always do,” Hope said, adding that she and Kellie have their eye on growing their outreach project. Those who are interested in supporting their efforts are invited to contact smilesforsanjuan@gmail.com for additional information.

At this writing, beneficiaries include Centro Escolar Manuel Minero de Mejia and Escualita de Fútbol, both of which are located in San Juan Tepezontes.

Where there is a need, there is always Hope…and Kellie.

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