Hi, I’m Jen. In 2018, I attended our family reunion in my birth country, Belize, located in Central America. While there we visited Gales Point, Manatee, the village where my grandfather and other ancestors were born and raised. This village only has one multi-grade school, Gales Point Government School. This school has one concrete building consisting of three classrooms, and three additional wooden structures, one of which is the cafeteria, the other two with four classrooms each. Each classroom serves multi-grades. It serves students of Mullins River, Gales Point, students along the coastal road before Mullins River and as far as 5 miles up on the coastal road beyond the village.

We spent an entire afternoon interacting with the villagers, distributing school supplies, backpacks, t-shirts, and books - all items collected from our previous fundraising efforts! We then provided the children with hot dogs, chips and sodas and I even had the privilege of reading a book to them and presenting them with a copy of their own! I will never forget the joy and excitement on their faces and look forward to making new memories.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of resources and damages incurred from Hurricane Lisa in 2022, the students of Gales Point Government School need supplies and equipment. I, along with a small group of family members and friends will be heading back to Gales Point next month, February 2023. We have been receiving donations for school supplies via Amazon and have shipped a barrel full already. However, we would like to purchase laptops and projectors for the teachers to take with us. We are certain this will enhance the student’s learning experience and ask for your support in this effort. Please note, all donations are welcome; no donation is too small! We sincerely thank you in advance.