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Man builds windmill for Haitians
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| Central Christian Church volunteers lead a game at an orphanage in Haiti. The church continues to help with an orphanage and a medical clinic in Haiti. BDN file photo |
By Hillary Gavan
Daily News staff writer
Central Christian Church to bring renewable energy, funds to country
Brad Williams constructed a windmill to provide free and renewable energy to a hospital in Haiti.
Brad Williams, the son of Williams Tree Farm owners Don and Karen Williams, started building the windmill almost two years ago. When he heard the medical clinic built by Central Christian Church volunteers in Thomazeau, Haiti needed some extra power, he started brainstorming ways to help.
Although the clinic can be hooked up to a generator, he knew that the fuel costs would be too high for the Haitians to pay for. Many of these families only make $2 a day, and gas costs more than $8 a gallon.
With a passion for learning about renewable energy, Brad Williams knew which Web site to turn to for instructions on building a windmill - www.otherpower.com. The windmill featured on the Web site consisted of three fiberglass blades on a 42-foot tower. Held down by four metal cables, it also included a battery pack, alternator and inverter.
Brad Williams enlisted the help of his dad Don Williams to work on the windmill at the tree farm. Jay Anderson, owner of Jerry's Auto Parts in Roscoe donated the battery pack and his expertise. The three men bought the fiberglass blades and worked on the windmill part-time for about a year.
“The tricky part was the metal fabrication - welding together the frame and apoxying the magnets. It was a home-built alternator,” Brad Williams said.
The windmill has been tested out at the free farm, and when the wind blows, the alternator can begin working.
Once erected in Haiti, the windmill will cut costs down at the hospital, so a generator doesn't have to be used. The battery in the windmill will produce any necessary electricity, so there is no electric bill or fuel costs for the hospital.
Although it was a long project, Brad Williams said the biggest challenge to building the windmill was just finding the time to do it. After it was built it was sent to Haiti via ocean freight and has been in customs.
During the next trip to Thomazeau scheduled for January, a team of 17 people from Central Christian church plan to deliver funds to build more water filters, as well as installing a windmill at the hospital.
Brad Williams hopes to one day build a home that is completely self-sufficient in terms of energy production. Although he runs is his Web site design company called Influential Creations, he would enjoy creation renewable energy products.
Meanwhile, Central Christian Church remains heavily involved in mission work in Haiti. Project Hope medical mission, led by Doug and Vicky Lloyd and Kris Dunlop, and the Bless the Boys mission led by Debbie Fischer and Denise Anderson, continue to help the people of Haiti.
The church at 2460 Milwaukee Road, will be holding a silent auction and dinner on Friday, Nov. 7, to raise money for its missions to Haiti. The dinner will be held in the Kidzworks Building from 6-8 p.m.
Tickets cost $10 for adults, although two adult tickets can be purchased for $15. Children 12 and under can get tickets for $5 and children three and under can get in for free.
The dinner will be catered at 6 p.m. by the Italian House. The silent auction bidding will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 7:30 p.m.
With the price of rice skyrocketing and no running water or electricity in many areas, the people of Haiti are desperate for help. If it wasn't for the hospital built four years, many wouldn't see a doctor as the nearest hospital is hours and hours away by foot.
“This fundraiser allows us to continue to provide our services so desperately needed to the Haitian people. The positive results of this are long term and life saving,” Fischer said.
Donations made from the dinner will go 100 percent towards continuing the year-round work for both of these groups.
“Haiti is still in our hearts,” said Debbie Fischer
For more information about the mission trip visit http://www.helpprojecthope.com.
Some of the items at Friday night's silent auction
NorthPointe three-month gym membership
Finnegans' RV Center three-day motorhome rental (200 free miles included)
€ Ziebart of South Beloit, wash & wax
Best Western of South Beloit, one-night stay
Tilley's of Beloit gift certificate
Vikings QB Fran Tarkenton autographed photo
“Type A Images” gift certificate
Bud Weiser of Beloit Chevy clock and Corvette hat
Haitian wooden sculptures
Haitian artwork
Haitian painting by “artendeavors”
Pet basket
Baker's basket
Tax Preparation gift certificates
Beloit College basket
Hilton Garden Inn of Rockford, 50 percent off certificate
Advance Auto of Beloit, tool set
Brad Williams constructed a windmill to provide free and renewable energy to a hospital in Haiti.
Brad Williams, the son of Williams Tree Farm owners Don and Karen Williams, started building the windmill almost two years ago. When he heard the medical clinic built by Central Christian Church volunteers in Thomazeau, Haiti needed some extra power, he started brainstorming ways to help.
Although the clinic can be hooked up to a generator, he knew that the fuel costs would be too high for the Haitians to pay for. Many of these families only make $2 a day, and gas costs more than $8 a gallon.
With a passion for learning about renewable energy, Brad Williams knew which Web site to turn to for instructions on building a windmill - www.otherpower.com. The windmill featured on the Web site consisted of three fiberglass blades on a 42-foot tower. Held down by four metal cables, it also included a battery pack, alternator and inverter.
Brad Williams enlisted the help of his dad Don Williams to work on the windmill at the tree farm. Jay Anderson, owner of Jerry's Auto Parts in Roscoe donated the battery pack and his expertise. The three men bought the fiberglass blades and worked on the windmill part-time for about a year.
“The tricky part was the metal fabrication - welding together the frame and apoxying the magnets. It was a home-built alternator,” Brad Williams said.
The windmill has been tested out at the free farm, and when the wind blows, the alternator can begin working.
Once erected in Haiti, the windmill will cut costs down at the hospital, so a generator doesn't have to be used. The battery in the windmill will produce any necessary electricity, so there is no electric bill or fuel costs for the hospital.
Although it was a long project, Brad Williams said the biggest challenge to building the windmill was just finding the time to do it. After it was built it was sent to Haiti via ocean freight and has been in customs.
During the next trip to Thomazeau scheduled for January, a team of 17 people from Central Christian church plan to deliver funds to build more water filters, as well as installing a windmill at the hospital.
Brad Williams hopes to one day build a home that is completely self-sufficient in terms of energy production. Although he runs is his Web site design company called Influential Creations, he would enjoy creation renewable energy products.
Meanwhile, Central Christian Church remains heavily involved in mission work in Haiti. Project Hope medical mission, led by Doug and Vicky Lloyd and Kris Dunlop, and the Bless the Boys mission led by Debbie Fischer and Denise Anderson, continue to help the people of Haiti.
The church at 2460 Milwaukee Road, will be holding a silent auction and dinner on Friday, Nov. 7, to raise money for its missions to Haiti. The dinner will be held in the Kidzworks Building from 6-8 p.m.
Tickets cost $10 for adults, although two adult tickets can be purchased for $15. Children 12 and under can get tickets for $5 and children three and under can get in for free.
The dinner will be catered at 6 p.m. by the Italian House. The silent auction bidding will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 7:30 p.m.
With the price of rice skyrocketing and no running water or electricity in many areas, the people of Haiti are desperate for help. If it wasn't for the hospital built four years, many wouldn't see a doctor as the nearest hospital is hours and hours away by foot.
“This fundraiser allows us to continue to provide our services so desperately needed to the Haitian people. The positive results of this are long term and life saving,” Fischer said.
Donations made from the dinner will go 100 percent towards continuing the year-round work for both of these groups.
“Haiti is still in our hearts,” said Debbie Fischer
For more information about the mission trip visit http://www.helpprojecthope.com.
Some of the items at Friday night's silent auction
€ Ziebart of South Beloit, wash & wax
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