In Haiti it’s called Pwoje Espwa, the Hope Project.

It’s the mission of Lewiston native Marc R. Boisvert, 53, a Roman Catholic priest who now lives and works with the poor of Les Cayes, Haiti.

Hope Project consists of an orphanage housing more than 200 Haitian children, a soup kitchen that feeds more than 1,000 people each day, three schools for poor children and a dispensary.

The project has also purchased land outside of the city and is in the process of building an ecologically sustainable village where children will live and raise vegetables, fruits and livestock.

The mission is supported by an array of organizations and people including the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, Catholic Relief Services, Food For The Poor, the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, two Catholic churches in Castine and Stonington and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.

Hope Project nevertheless continues to need help, says Boisvert. Civil strife raging in Haiti has led to fuel and food shortages that have sent prices skyrocketing.

“I know it sounds crass, but if you want to help us, send money. Food costs money, medicine costs money, education costs money,” he says.

Boisvert’s brother-in-law, Jack Reynolds, has been helping Hope Project full time for several years via the nonprofit Theo’s Work Inc.

“The name comes from two things,” said Boisvert: “My grandfather’s name was Theo and God in Greek is Theos.”

He said Reynolds deposits donations in a bank account, then transfers the money to the Hope Project in Haiti electronically.

Donations can be made to Theo’s Work, Inc., 120 Claremont Road, Ridgewood, N.J., 07450.

People can also make a donation to the mission through the Haiti Fund at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center c/o Dr. Cynthia DeSoi.

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