The Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee held their annual school supply drive to benefit children and families from The Real Life Children’s Ranch in Okeechobee.
The Real Life Children’s Ranch (RLCR) is a faith-based ministry that offers residential, family-style group foster homes for boys and girls who have been abused, abandoned and/or neglected.
For over two decades the Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee has held a school supply drive raising money and donating supplies to give to the Ranch. With the help of an anonymous doner that matches the clubs’ donation dollar for dollar up to $1000, the club was able to donated more than $2000 to go along with a lot of school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Mark Mayers, the executive director for RLCR says that, “ there is a need for supplies and clothing not only for the beginning of the school year but for when families are uprooted from their home and placed with them throughout the school tear. It is a very traumatic experience for the children and new school supplies and clothing goes a long way to help.”
Mayers went on to sat, “ the beginning of the school year is different for their children because most of t hem are from other counties, so on top of the traumas they are dealing with they are also starting at a new school without knowing anyone.”
School begins Thursday, August 12th for Okeechobee County Schools.
For more information on Real Life Children’s Ranch, visit rlcr.org