Villagers banded together to support children and their families living in poverty in the Ocala National Forest when they first learned of their needs.
Friends of SoZo Kids, a local organisation, often has a plan to support, whether it’s offering food for families or helping children prepare for school.
Volunteers help with a programme at Forest Lakes Park Community Center during the summer months. The curriculum runs Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for 6 weeks. 15 to 30 children, ranging in age from 5 to 17, visit the camp for free every time it is available.
“Whenever we can, we love being able to assist the kids,” said club President Linda Casey. “Supporting the SoZo Kids programme, which serves children living in extreme poverty in the Ocala National Forest, is the non-profit’s priority.”
Friends of SoZo Kids is dedicated to assisting the summer programme by donating their time and talents.
In a news release, LaRae Donnellan, a board member of Friends of SoZo Kids, said, “Our aim is to have six volunteers each time the camp is open. They assist with meals, snacks, and events such as photography, science lab and reading, as well as everything else volunteers might think of.”
The children are also taken off-site for special occasions, such as Chick-fil-A during its annual children’s free lunch day.
Casey believes it is critical to provide proper food and activities for children, particularly those who are young.
“We can help change their lives if we reach them early and give them some hope,” said Casey of the Village of La Belle. “We want to assist them in breaking the cycle of poverty, but they also need support and proper guidance in order to make choices that will lead them in that direction.”
Members of the non-profit banded together over the holidays to raise funds for holiday meals for families enrolled in the SoZo Kids programme.
“We had turkey dinners that we ordered from a restaurant for Thanksgiving,” said Donnellan of the Village of Dunedin. “We served ham dinners during Christmas because we wanted to ensure that the families had a meal to share during the holidays.”
In February, the club distributed 900 love packages containing snacks and toiletries to teenagers living in the forest.
Casey said, “It’s a perfect little present to show the teens they are cherished. We understand how difficult things have been for them, and we just want to do our part to help.”
Mindy Pappas, a Del Webb Spruce Creek resident and member of the Friends of SoZo Kids club, volunteers a specific part of her time at The Help Agency of The Forest, a food pantry run by Pastor Dave Houck for SoZo families.
She said, “I heard about a requirement and decided to see first-hand what the families in the forest needed. It gave me the chance to work side by side with the folks who work with the families in the forest because I took a break from work.”
Someone donates food every time the pantry is available, according to Pappas.
“Friends of SoZo Kids haven’t donated food, but they do have support when there is an immediate requirement or the pantry is at an all-time low,” she said. “I love assisting, and I enjoy seeing the work that this organisation accomplishes.”
Houck said he appreciates all of the assistance he receives from the company.
“When it’s required, they step in and help,” he said. “Bringing the group together is always a good thing, and these volunteers enjoy helping the kids.”
THREE QUICK THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FRIENDS OF SOZO KIDS INC.
- In March 2020, the charity club was accredited as a 501 (c) (3). The group changed its name from SoZo Kids Club of The Villages to avoid misunderstandings with the organisation it serves, SoZo Kids.
- The organisation works to meet educational needs, such as after-school activities, summer programmes, and a scholarship programme; critical needs, such as food and school supplies; and emergency needs, such as repairing broken pipes or other home-improvement requirements.
- Friends of SoZo Kids is governed by an 11-member board of directors, which governs the organization’s planning and operations. Board members rotate through two-year terms and can serve up to two terms in a row consecutively.
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun