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Giving back with packs
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| Children in Guatemala hold up new toothbrushes they received from local dentists. Dr. Celia Martin, of Martin Orthodontics in Lake City, and Dr. Harold Arthur, of Harold Arthur, DMD Family Dentistry in Live Oak, donated more than 500 toothbrushes to children in the Central American country. COURTESY PHOTO |
Couple gathers school supplies for Guatemalans
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
COLUMBIA CITY — David and Bonnie Robertson have gotten more from Guatemala than they can ever hope to give back.
But that doesn’t mean that they’re not going to try.
After adopting two daughters from the Central American country, and getting a first-look at the impoverished country, Bonnie Robertson is preparing a shipment of school supplies to arrive before the start of school in January in Guatemala.
While the project started at the end of the 2007-2008 school year at Columbia City Elementary School, the seed for the project was planted more than two years ago.
Already with four children of their own, David and Bonnie Robertson made the decision to begin the adoption process. They chose to adopt in Guatemala and during the process, Bonnie would spend two weeks a month in the country to foster the children.
During that time, she was introduced to the Hope for Guatemala children’s ministry serves more than 250 impoverished children on a daily basis by providing hot meals, clothing, Bible study and educational services.
Her heart was touched — not only did she develop an attachment to her own adopted daughters, but also to the many other children in the country.
“I became very involved in it,” she said, “so involved that I measured children’s feet every time I was there and worked with the Sports Connection in Live Oak to buy them tennis shoes.”
She returned in May, her first visit to the orphanage from which she adopted their daughters and developed the idea to collect and send school supplies to these
students.
Robertson first approached Columbia City Elementary School Principal Lana Boone about a backpack drive at the end of the 2007-2008 school year — as many students buy a new backpack at the beginning of each school year, Robertson thought that many of those used backpacks could be taken and donated to children in Guatemala.
“Parents are either going to reuse the backpacks or get rid of them,” Boone said, adding that parents donated the items in droves. “We were happy they could be put to good use.”
More than 80 backpacks were collected during the end-of-the-school-year drive and those, along with other supplies, are scheduled to arrive in the country next month. Continued collections of supplies will continue to be sent through the end of the year, ahead of the scheduled start date for school in Guatemala. Robertson said schools in the Central American country are on a different schedule and begin in January.
In addition to the collected school supplies, children in Guatemala recently received a donation of dental hygiene products donated by two area dentists.
Dr. Celia Martin, of Martin Orthodontics in Lake City, and Dr. Harold Arthur, of Harold Arthur, DMD Family Dentistry in Live Oak, combined to donate more than 500 toothbrushes, along with toothpaste and dental floss.
“This is the first toothbrush that many of these children had ever had at their home,” Robertson said. “They always had one at the place they come to for educational classes and meals, but never one at home.”
Martin said she is a strong supporter of promoting dental health in countries where it isn’t readily accessible.
“I’m really big on getting toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to people, because you will go places and an entire family will have one toothbrush for the kids and adults,” Martin said.
“It’s amazing how appreciative these kids are when you kind of take having something like a toothbrush for granted. When you’ve never had one of your own, you would think that you had just given them a million dollars.”
Arthur said he couldn’t do anything but help after Robertson approached him about making a donation.
“I’m a dentist, and my job is to promote dental health, whether it is here in this country or elsewhere,” he said.
Robertson said she is continuing to collect school supplies for the shipment that will be sent at the end of the year. Those interested in making a donation can contact Robertson at (386) 497-2972 or bonnieanddavid@windstream.net.
“My family has been so blessed that these little things give back in ways that are immeasurable,” Robertson said.
But that doesn’t mean that they’re not going to try.
After adopting two daughters from the Central American country, and getting a first-look at the impoverished country, Bonnie Robertson is preparing a shipment of school supplies to arrive before the start of school in January in Guatemala.
While the project started at the end of the 2007-2008 school year at Columbia City Elementary School, the seed for the project was planted more than two years ago.
Already with four children of their own, David and Bonnie Robertson made the decision to begin the adoption process. They chose to adopt in Guatemala and during the process, Bonnie would spend two weeks a month in the country to foster the children.
During that time, she was introduced to the Hope for Guatemala children’s ministry serves more than 250 impoverished children on a daily basis by providing hot meals, clothing, Bible study and educational services.
Her heart was touched — not only did she develop an attachment to her own adopted daughters, but also to the many other children in the country.
“I became very involved in it,” she said, “so involved that I measured children’s feet every time I was there and worked with the Sports Connection in Live Oak to buy them tennis shoes.”
She returned in May, her first visit to the orphanage from which she adopted their daughters and developed the idea to collect and send school supplies to these
students.
Robertson first approached Columbia City Elementary School Principal Lana Boone about a backpack drive at the end of the 2007-2008 school year — as many students buy a new backpack at the beginning of each school year, Robertson thought that many of those used backpacks could be taken and donated to children in Guatemala.
“Parents are either going to reuse the backpacks or get rid of them,” Boone said, adding that parents donated the items in droves. “We were happy they could be put to good use.”
More than 80 backpacks were collected during the end-of-the-school-year drive and those, along with other supplies, are scheduled to arrive in the country next month. Continued collections of supplies will continue to be sent through the end of the year, ahead of the scheduled start date for school in Guatemala. Robertson said schools in the Central American country are on a different schedule and begin in January.
In addition to the collected school supplies, children in Guatemala recently received a donation of dental hygiene products donated by two area dentists.
Dr. Celia Martin, of Martin Orthodontics in Lake City, and Dr. Harold Arthur, of Harold Arthur, DMD Family Dentistry in Live Oak, combined to donate more than 500 toothbrushes, along with toothpaste and dental floss.
“This is the first toothbrush that many of these children had ever had at their home,” Robertson said. “They always had one at the place they come to for educational classes and meals, but never one at home.”
Martin said she is a strong supporter of promoting dental health in countries where it isn’t readily accessible.
“I’m really big on getting toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to people, because you will go places and an entire family will have one toothbrush for the kids and adults,” Martin said.
“It’s amazing how appreciative these kids are when you kind of take having something like a toothbrush for granted. When you’ve never had one of your own, you would think that you had just given them a million dollars.”
Arthur said he couldn’t do anything but help after Robertson approached him about making a donation.
“I’m a dentist, and my job is to promote dental health, whether it is here in this country or elsewhere,” he said.
Robertson said she is continuing to collect school supplies for the shipment that will be sent at the end of the year. Those interested in making a donation can contact Robertson at (386) 497-2972 or bonnieanddavid@windstream.net.
“My family has been so blessed that these little things give back in ways that are immeasurable,” Robertson said.
