At Pencils With Passion, our commitment to providing school supplies and support to underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic has been unwavering. Lilly, Tracy, Susie, Jeff, and Brooks, along with the incredible support of our team, recently undertook a heartwarming mission to make a difference in the lives of 500 school children. Here’s the incredible journey we embarked on and the impact it has had. 500 Backpacks, Countless Smiles Our team visited two schools, catering to children between preschool and fifth grade. We were armed with 500 backpacks, each carefully selected to meet the specific needs of each grade. This year, we were fortunate to receive detailed supply lists from the teachers, allowing us to provide the right tools for each child’s education journey. The excitement and joy on the faces of these children when they received their backpacks were truly priceless. Supporting the Upcoming School Year In addition to the backpacks, we also brought nearly 1,000 lbs worth of school supplies, ensuring that these young minds were well-equipped for the new school year that began on September 15th. Our mission is to remove barriers to education, and this support goes a long way in achieving that goal. Facing Challenges with Resilience While our mission brought smiles to many faces, it was not without its share of challenges. We learned that some of the children we had helped previously had been taken back to Haiti due to immigration issues. It was heart-wrenching news, and we are deeply concerned for these children’s future. However, we remain committed to working with the teachers and school administrators, as well as immigration officials, to ensure that other children who may face similar issues can continue their education. Expanding Our Reach Our dedication to making a difference doesn’t stop here. We are actively exploring the possibility of assisting a third school located in the mountains north of Santo Domingo, the capital. Our hope is to extend our support to this school in September 2024, making a lasting impact on the lives of even more children in need. Acknowledging Our Heroes We couldn’t have achieved all of this without the incredible efforts of our dedicated team members, Susie and York. Their invaluable contributions in communication, coordination, and delivery have been instrumental to our success. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their unwavering support. In addition, a significant part of our work involves sharing our journey with all of you. We’d also like to thank Grindaholik Media Group for developing our wonderful website and keeping you updated with our blogs and pictures to capture the essence of each of our visits, and we’re incredibly grateful for their dedication. Join Us in Making a Difference We invite you to visit our website and consider making a donation to help us gather school supplies and teaching materials for the 2024 school year. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of these children. We also welcome any used school supplies that you may want to drop off at our jewelry store; the address is available on our website. Get Involved If you’re interested in getting involved or planning a visit to the Dominican Republic, we would love to provide you with supplies to take with you for the schools. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, can help shape the future of these children. In closing, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Pencils With Passion. Together, we can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of these young students and give them the gift of education and hope. Thank you for being a part of our mission! Previous Next