Upcoming Mission Trips

Upcoming Trips

Honduras- Comayagua
Feb 15-21

Nicaragua- Granada
March 5-13

Mexico 2009
March 16-21
$807
Royal Caribbean

GKB By Kidz November Meetup

GKB BY KIDZ CLUB

On October 25 Give a Kid a Backpack had its first kids club meeting. New members shared ideas on how to help children in need. Also new members helped pack 100 backpacks with school supplies. Next meeting will be on November 16 @1pm at 2105 Hartwood Marsh Rd Suite 6. For more information call 877-452-7225 or email info@giveakidabackpack.org.

NIGHT GOLF

HELP KIDS ONE SWING AT A TIME!

On Saturday November 22 Give a Kid a Backpack will be hosting it's 2nd Annual Night Golf Event at the Legends Golf Course.
Cost is $50 per player and it includes all glow items and meal. Foursome preferred. Bring a backpack and receive a free mulligan. Space is limited.
For further information please call 877-452-7225 or the Legends Pro Golf Shop 352-248-1118 or visit www.giveakidabackpack.org
http://sites.google.com/site/nightgolf4charity/

ACES FOR CHILDREN EDUCATION! TEXAS HOLD EM POKER TOURNAMENT Friday October 24

Texas Hold'em Tournament was a Success!

On October 25 Give a Kid a Backpack had its first Texas Hold'em Tournament. On behalf of Give a Kid a Backpack we would like to thank the volunteers and the businesses that made the event a success: Circuit City, Days Inn of Clermont, Hitch & Time, Chevy's Fresh Mex, Chipotle, Legends Golf, Orange National, Golf, Wallaby Ranch, Mimi's Cafe, Macaroni Grill, San Jose's Restaurant, Cracker Barrel, Golden Corral, Sugarloaf Mountain Golf, Hold'em or Fold'em, Metro West Golf, Outback Steakhouse and Cypress Gardens. Pictured from left Bill Shinker, Rosanna Kingston, Griselle Ellin and Nicole Kazmareck

tools for school

Thanks Office Depot for Supporting the Community!


On behalf of Give a Kid a Backpack we would like to Thank Office Depot Foundation for the contribution of 500 backpacks. The contribution will help with the efforts of Give a Kid a Backpack and Rotary District 6980 to deliver 1,850 backpacks to children in need through the Central Florida schools and nonprofits.

In 2008 Give a Kid a Backpack has delivered 3443 backpacks to children in need in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, California and Texas.

Give a Kid a Backpack is a volunteer base nonprofit organization that helps children in need around the world. Since 2004 GKB has delivered 21,795 backpacks.

Thanks Office Depot for Supporting the Community!

Thanks Office Depot for Supporting the Community!

On behalf of Give a Kid a Backpack we would like to Thank Office Depot Foundation for the contribution of 500 backpacks. The contribution will help with the efforts of Give a Kid a Backpack and Rotary District 6980 to deliver 1,850 backpacks to children in need through the Central Florida schools and nonprofits.

A total of 3443 backpacks has been delivered backpacks to children in Florida, California, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Texas.

Give a Kid a Backpack is a volunteer base nonprofit organization that helps children in need around the world. Since 2004 GKB has delivered 21,795 backpacks.

Collecting School supplies July 19- Aug 3

Rotary, Office Depot and Give a Kid a Backpack has partner to collect supplies for underprivileged children in the Central Florida schools.

Volunteers Needed to help pack at:

Montverde Academy Chapel
17235 Seventh Street
Montverde, FL 34756

Schedule

Sat Aug 2 9am-12pm
Sat Aug 9 9am-12pm

VOLUNTEER CORNER

What can I say? Going to Costa Rica was amazing. Everything that we did, I will never forget. Many people see advertisements on TV about the poverty in different countries and say to themselves “that’s so sad, I want to help them.” However, many people do not actually do what they think. That is sad because by me actually going to the indigenous community really opened my eyes a lot. The activities we did along the way were so much fun. One day we hiked up a mountain to see the volcano, which was beautiful. Another day we traveled four hours to Limon and went to the beach. Later that night we all got together and thought of a way to pack the backpacks in an organized way. When we figured that out we started packing and it took us about an hour and a half. Packing those backpacks was fun because we all laughed and bonded. The next day we started delivering the backpacks. While handing them out to the local children we also interacted with them and had conversations in Spanish with them. We would ask them questions like “what is your name?”, “how old are you?”, “what do you like to do?”, things like that. Showing them the pictures we took with them and seeing their faces when they got the backpacks touched my heart in so many ways. One of the places we went to we got to play soccer with them and that was so much fun. They were willing to teach you how to play and we were able to see what they do in their free times. After that, one of the little boys brought us to his house and we got to look around. The house was made out of wood, with three bedrooms, and seven people living there. They had no air-conditioning, or electricity. It is definitely not your ordinary house. The amazing thing is you couldn’t tell they were unhappy, I always saw smiles on all their faces. It makes you think because even though they don’t have a lot they can be happy, so it makes you appreciate so much more in life. A scary part of where they live is that they live very far from the city and don’t have much around them. If they needed to get to a hospital, it would take them awhile which I think is bad and I wish a hospital could be built near them.
Another community we went to was the Yorkin tribe. The only way to get there is by an hour and a half canoe ride. As we were in the canoe we would have to get out every once in awhile to help push the boat out of the shallow parts. That was definitely an adventure. When we got there, we handed out the last of the backpacks to the kids and then they showed us the tourist spot they’re building. I was so impressed with them because the buildings have showers, bathrooms and beds. We got to eat lunch there and the food was so good. The people there were so welcoming and willing to show us how they live. It’s not everyday you are able to meet such kind and generous people.

I will never forget this wonderful experience. Knowing how they live and how little they have, makes me appreciate life and how much I have. It also makes want to help more people in need and possibly go on more trips with Mrs. Kingston because seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces is a smile I will never forget.

Chelsea Strickland

VOLUNTEER CORNER

COSTA RICA

My trip to Costa Rica can only be described as impacting on my life. On this trip I was able to see many beautiful things, but also I saw some things that made me sad. When our group was down there I was able to walk around San Jose which was amazing to see the open markets and walk around the parks to see the statues they held. Then after we had left the city to head toward the coast in Limon I was able to see the beautiful country side on the ride, which was just lush green vegetation and gorgeous rivers. Then after we had arrived we were able to step out on a beach that had a view that a person would find in a magazine where the water was a deep pretty blue color and with waves some surfers only dream about. Then being able to do a zip line canopy tour was one of the best parts of the trip being able to see the beautiful rainforest from with in and the thrill of zipping through high in the air, and a personal favorite was being able to see a wild monkey. These things were able to strike me in awe, but not as much as the villages that we had visited, which was our main reason for going. The villages struck me in awe not because they were extravagant, but rather because most Americans would not be able to live there happily as the people who did live in those villages could keep joy. Though in these villages that did not have the modern luxuries that all Americans do such as clean water from the tap easy to access electricity and functioning toilets, the residents were happy people. The most amazing sight I was able to witness on my trip was with out a doubt was the look on the faces of the students we gave backpacks to because something so small gave them smiles as if they had just been given keys to a beach side mansion. Then after seeing this I was told that they might not get simple school supplies more than once a year, which affected me because I know if I need another pen or pencil I can just go pick it up and it is not thought as an expense. This shocks me the most because you hear about poverty and you believe that it exists, but you have no clue to how real it is until you can witness it first hand. This trip for me was unforgettable not only because I got to go on a nice vacation, but also because I was able to help someone that truly needed it and that was thankful that I had taken my time for something that in American eyes would not have been considered much.

Justin Walls