Frances Nelms, a senior early childhood education major, even after combating an unsanitary water problem in Haiti, can’t wait to return to the Caribbean nation.

Each December and May, members of the Haiti Connection, a volunteer group dedicated to remedying the water issue, travel to Haiti where families cannot rely on running water.

Holly Walters, volunteer chair and minister at the Newman Center, said Nelms, chairperson of the group, constantly gives her all.

“Fran is always willing to help out when needed,” Walters said. “She doesn’t expect recognition; she just helps from her heart.”

While in Haiti, the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere, Nelms and other group members worked with Haitians to provide families with individual water filters and show them how to use the systems.

Without the filters, or “buckets for life,” families may struggle with untreatable illnesses and disease.

“The experience was very monumental because you’re making such an impact on others’ lives,” Nelms said. “It creates such an awareness because you see people who aren’t able to eat every day, when our biggest choices are hamburgers or pizza.”

Nelms has held her position as the chair of the Haiti Connection since last May, when the group took its most recent trip to Haiti.

“We needed a chair immediately when we were down there,” said Ann Schwingel, a junior accounting major and treasurer for the group. “She was kind of appointed and just assumed the role while we were down there.”

Although Nelms’ appointment was an unplanned one, Schwingel complimented her chairperson’s success at the position.

“She’s done a really good job with the Haiti Connection,” Schwingel said. “She’s always on top of things and is really effective in tying everything together and letting the members know what’s going on.”

Her dedication to the group has not prevented Nelms from becoming involved in a number of other things.

In addition to being involved with the Haiti Connection, Nelms has also participated in alternative spring break, a program that provides low-income families with homes and home improvements.

Nelms supports the Fair Trade coalition at Eastern, and is currently helping to plan a presentation that will educate and create awareness about globalization issues, to be held in February.

“She just gives of herself all the time,” Walters said. “I’ve never even heard her complain. She’s always looking to give.”

Nelms will graduate this semester and will begin student teaching in Hanover Park, Maryland next semester; but she hopes to find time to travel to Haiti again in the spring.

“I’m going to miss her,” Schwingel said. “I think the person who succeeds her (as chairperson) is going to have a hard person to follow. She did such a good job.”

Nelms attended her last Haiti Connection meeting Tuesday night.

“I’m really sad about leaving it,” she said. “I would encourage people to join and dedicate part of their time making an impact and creating change.”