Someone who has never visited the Ocala National Forest might be shocked to hear that people there live in different levels of poverty.
Pastor Dave Houck, the founder of The Help Agency of The Forest, also known as SoZo Kids, has made it his task to assist those in need.
The nonprofit’s mission is to assist children and families living in abject poverty in the forest with emergency food, clothes, sanitation and preventive services. SoZo Kids, the organization’s children’s initiative, offers a range of programs for school-aged children, including safe after-school care. Houck recently requested assistance with one of his sponsorship services in which he raises funds to assist families with more specific needs.
“The sponsorships support the people who live in the forest,” Houck said. “It assists in the provision of food, clothes, gas, and anything else they need at the time. It differs from the grants provided by the Friends of SoZo Kids, a club in The Villages that supports the SoZo Kids program, in that sponsorships enable me to assist them with immediate needs. “
Those more urgent needs, such as assistance with paying the electric bill that helps a family’s food to remain fresh in the fridge, are often ignored.
The club’s grants are used in several tangible ways, such as renovating a bathroom in a children’s community center or purchasing new playground equipment, which is also the primary concern of the Friends of SoZo Kids club, while Houck focuses on specific needs.
“Sponsorships are unique in that they are used for items that people need right now,” he said. “Every penny I get goes back into helping these families, whether it’s food for a family who has experienced a sudden death, gas for students to get to school or work, or cash to support paying electric bills.”
Sponsorships help offer more than what people see on the outside, according to Jordon Houck, who helps oversee The Help Agency of The Forest food pantry.
Jordon Houck said, “Right now, the needs may be clear. It’s food, clean water and clothes, but the money raised by sponsorships also goes toward helping families with immediate home repairs, drugs and transportation.”
Sponsorships, according to Jordon, are one of the most effective and flexible ways to assist forest dwellers.
“When they deal with us, they can see all of the different needs,” he said. “Most people simply hear of a need and react in whatever way they see fit.”
When she has time, Del Webb Spruce Creek resident Mindy Pappas, who is also a member of Friends of SoZo Kids, volunteers at the food pantry.
She said, “I wanted to be able to support people. I read about the pantry in the woods and decided to check it out. Since then, I’ve lent a hand because helping these people has become a priority for me, and without the community’s and Pastor Houck’s assistance, they would be in much worse shape.”
Visit sozokids.org to learn more about SoZo Kid and the sponsorship program. Make checks payable to the Help Agency and mail them to 19186 NE 13th St., Silver Springs, FL 34488.
Friends of SoZo Kids can be found online at friendsofszolcids.com.
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun