BY MATT SCHOOLEY

For the last five years, Bob Couch has been extending a helping hand, and it’s gone a long way – all the way to Honduras.

Couch is the chairman for the Rotary District 7870’s Amigos to Honduras volunteer organization, which coincides with Hands to Honduras, sending groups to Central America for construction, medical and water
supply assistance.

The trip costs between $800-$1,000 for Couch, who pays his way out of his own pocket. However, the cost is something the Bow Rotary member sees as unimportant compared to the lessons learned.

“I call it my annual grounding. I really learn the value of what my station of life is at this point,” he said.

Although not a construction worker by trade, Couch is a self-proclaimed “heavy duty home handyman” who enjoys building furniture as well as performing electrical and plumbing tasks.

During his first trip to Honduras, it was only fitting for Couch to lead one of two teams performing construction duties, Couch’s on a hospital building.

The group of volunteers consists mostly of Rotary members, though not all, and travels to Danli and San Pedro Sula with members from New England. Couch has been so frequent that he knows many of the towns’ citizens by nicknames and is often invited to their homes for dinner.

Although Couch said it is a tremendous feeling being able to help those less fortunate, it can also be difficult to leave.

“It’s mixed in a way. You get down there and there is so much to do that you feel like you can barely scratch the surface,” said Couch.

“You aren’t going to be able to solve all the hurt, but if you can leave it a little better than you found it, you should be happy with what you’ve accomplished. It’s been a very moving experience.”

Another one of the benefits for the group is being able to bring high school students on the trip. Couch said many of the high school students have been changed by the experience in Central America.

Couch said the Honduran people are always happy to see the volunteers arrive.

“It’s very warm. They are very welcoming, very nice people. The kids are always very interested and shy at the same time. They are always watching what you’re doing and want to pitch in,” he said.

The attitudes of the citizens of Honduras are what Couch said the volunteers are often able to learn the most from.

“These kids have absolutely nothing, but they’re happy,” he said. “They don’t know what they don’t have, which is what moves the people who go down there.”

Although many of the citizens of Honduras speak English fluently and there are translators at many of the sites, Couch still said one of the more difficult aspects of the trip is the language barrier.

“It’s funny because I have worked side by side with Hondurans who don’t speak a work of English, and I don’t speak a word of Spanish, but we get the job done,” said Couch, who also said it is amusing to see straight-A high school students struggle to comprehend a single sentence upon arriving in Honduras.

“You find a way. The things I know are the names of tools, nails and plumbing
fixtures.”

The cost of the trip may end up being expensive for Couch, who has brought his daughter for four voyages south, but in the end, there is not much that would stop him from volunteering.

“It’s very rewarding and I don’t imagine finding a year where I won’t want to go,” he said.