Dr. Rod and Darcy McLane's journey of altruism and adventure has been nothing short of inspiring. The couple grew up together as church family and family friends in Port Huron, Michigan, and they have been together since they graduated from college and got married in 1991. Their life story is characterized by their unwavering commitment to helping the less fortunate, especially children affected by poverty and disease.
Rod McLane graduated from Marysville High School and went on to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He later earned his doctorate from Life University in Atlanta. Darcy, on the other hand, graduated from Port Huron Northern High School and has a Master's in Administration from Liberty University and Central Michigan. Rod is in private practice in Marysville, MI and just retired from coaching High School Football in Marysville after many years. Darcy works for SEMCO Energy as Director of Accounting and Financial Systems and is also the Executive Director of Hope Endeavors and Hope Village.
After getting married, Rod started doing medical missions in Southeast Asia, where he worked with children impacted by human trafficking and living in the garbage dumps for many years. Darcy, after hearing mission stories from her children, decided it was time for her to go and see how she could contribute. From the first trip to Southeast Asia, she knew they needed to do more. They witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of poverty and disease on children's lives and knew they had to do something to help. This experience motivated them to start HOPE Endeavors, a 501c3 charitable organization that aims to bring hope to those suffering from extreme poverty.
As the vision evolved, a contact who got Rod started in Asia called out of the blue and said he should get ahold of an individual in Malawi, Africa who was caring for HIV/AIDS's affected children. A one-paragraph e-mail sent by Rod to his Malawian counterpart had the McLanes on a plane to Africa and inevitably expanded their vision to Africa to help children impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The organization's main focus is on HOPE Village, an HIV/AIDS Orphan Care Center in Malawi, Africa. At HOPE Village, children affected by AIDS receive residential care, nutritious food, clean water, medical care, as well as emotional and spiritual care. The McLanes have expanded HOPE Village over the years to include a preschool, a medical clinic, and Kids Clubs that serve not just HOPE Village but the surrounding villages as well.
In addition to providing care for the children, HOPE Village also operates a maize mill, a poultry and goat barn, a garden, and a maize farm. The McLanes reach over 6200 HIV/AIDS-affected children each month through their Kids Club. They are currently in the process of building family homes for children, which will allow them to live in a home with house parents instead of a dormitory setting to enhance the parental and spiritual role modeling offered by a family environment.
Their next big endeavor is to open a vocational school that will equip young adults with vocational skills. They have come a long way from hoping the children can survive to see a future where they thrive. The school will begin with courses in plumbing and sheet metalwork, carpentry and joinery, and textile design and tailoring.
Today, the McLanes run HOPE Endeavors from their Metamora home, with the support of their three adult children and their spouses. Rod and Darcy moved to Lake Lapeer in 2021 to be closer to their grown children--Morgan(Jeff), Madison(James), Garrett(Hannah), and two grandchildren with one on the way--Marley, Liam, and Finn, who is expected in March. They reside in Howell, Oxford, and Waterford. They have found the community to be very welcoming and are grateful to live in such a beautiful, peaceful environment. After working abroad for over 30 years in some of the poorest places on earth, they believe that the USA is the greatest place to live, and they love their little slice of heaven on Lake Lapeer in Metamora, Michigan. Rod says, "It was tough leaving our hometown, friends, church, and the only area we had ever lived, let alone working and coaching in it for 30 years. But the experience here on the lake with all of our wonderful neighbors, new community, and being closer to our children has been amazing. Finding a new church, doctors, dentists, hair stylists, plumbers, electricians, and restaurants all seemed daunting, but Lapeer Living, the welcoming community--especially Oakwood Community Church--which accepted us with open arms--helped connect us to events and people in our community. We are very happy and grateful to live in such a beautiful, welcoming community. The peace and calmness that living on the lake provides with the wonderful sunrises and the beauty of nature that God has provided here for us, we are truly blessed to live here."
If you would like more information on what the McLanes do or how you can help make a difference, visit their website at www.HopeEndeavors.com. They believe that "We can't help everyone, but we all can help someone." The McLanes have dedicated their lives to making a difference, and their story serves as an inspiration for many.