They were wide-eyed 21-year-olds fresh off LDS missions to Ukraine when they hit up family, businesses and acquaintances for donations and flew right back to Ukraine to buy food, medicine, clothing, toys and candy for needy orphans.
Realists might have passed it off as short-lived idealism.
Cynics might have seen it as a nice excuse to return to the old mission field and see friends.
But that was seven years ago.
And they're still doing it.
For most of us, serving others sooner or later, and usually sooner, gives way to real life — holding down a job, paying the mortgage, raising kids, buying that truck — but in the case of Benj Becker and Nate Shipp, real life has only given way to more service.
Even they are surprised they are still at it.
"I think in the beginning we kind of thought of it as maybe a one time deal," said Becker. "But people started giving, and they didn't stop."
So neither did they.
Becker and Shipp made their first mission of mercy trip to Ukraine in May of 2000, transforming $25,000 in donated American greenbacks into the aforementioned food, medicine, toys, et al.
They have returned every May since — they got back from trip No. 8 just two weeks ago — and have now dispersed nearly $500,000 in donated American greenbacks into about a dozen Ukrainian orphanages.
In addition to the food and meds, they have also, with the help of a number of generous Utah construction firms and developers, installed kitchens and bathrooms and built new roofs for the orphanages. And since all of the materials and goods are purchased in Ukraine, they are helping out the local economy as well.
Their charity is officially called Project Reach Out — PRO for short — and it is tax exempt and has its own Web site (projectreachout.com) where donations are continuously solicited.
"We couldn't do anything if it wasn't for the people who give us the money," said Becker. "We're just the messengers."
Being messengers is good duty, they'll be the first to tell you, if you can get it.
Each May they show up at the orphanage doors and get treated like Mother Teresa.
"They just light up," Becker said of the orphan kids. "They love to see somebody coming to play with them and take pictures with them. We've been seeing some of the same kids now for six or seven years, and you can really see better self-esteem and after seven years of getting vitamins every day you can tell they are significantly healthier.
"It's a very invigorating experience. It really helps me appreciate what I have. It's remarkably rewarding."
Since 2000 Becker and Shipp have each gone on to graduate from college, start a career (both are in real estate; Benj is a consultant and Nate works for a developer), get married and start a family.
But Project Reach Out has remained a constant. Their wives are now part of the operation and once their children get old enough, they will be, too.
The bottom line is this little service project of theirs could, and probably will, last at least a lifetime. Never underestimate the value of a really good idea.
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson[at]desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.
