Kids Helping Kids Pasco County
BY SANDY PARRISH
On April 20th the Easter Bunny got a helping hand, or rather a lot of small helping hands. Kids
Helping Kids Pasco County came together to put baskets together for families in need, just in time for Easter.
This charitable organization of pint sized volunteers was born in Michelle Patel’s kitchen the summer
of 2018. She and her 6-year old son were making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a local charitable
organization and her son told her that he wanted to do more. Michelle and other families started looking for
more opportunities for their children to give something back to others in the community who were not as
fortunate.
Over time, Michelle and her two sons took on more and more charitable projects, quickly growing their
mission into Kids Helping Kids Pasco County, Inc. They’ve developed their unique volunteer base mostly
through word of mouth and their Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/KidsHelpingKidsPasco.
Michelle said, “We strive to support local low-income families that are
having difficulties, many of whom may not be eligible for financial assistance.
The volunteer kids do everything because we want them to learn that they can
have a direct impact on helping people in their community, even by doing small
things. We have several donation drives coming up this year, including events for
summertime food donations, school supplies, Thanksgiving meals and Christmas
gifts.”
“We have a no judgement, no questions asked policy. We support any
family who requests help. All donations are kept confidential so many times, and
unbeknownst to our helpers, the very parents and children that we are supporting
are there working side by side with us,” Michelle noted.
If you would like to become involved, Kids Helping Kids Pasco will be having
their second annual Summer Food Drive on June 1st in Land O’Lakes. The event
will help to provide for local children who receive free or reduced lunch meals
during the school year. During the summer months many kids suffer without that
nutritional support, so these young volunteers step in to lend a hand to other
children who need a little help. This summer, Kids Helping Kids will supply more
than 50 families in need with food boxes containing shelf-stable foods to help
support them throughout the summer break. The organization needs volunteers
to collect donations, and prepare and deliver baskets of food during the summer
months. Suggested food items are shelf-stable milk, dry cereal, boxed and canned
goods, peanut butter, jelly and bread. This event will be held Saturday, June 1st from 3-5p.m. at Heritage
Lakes Park, Land O’Lakes.
For information on family assistance or to become a volunteer, please contact KidsHelpingKidsPasco@
yahoo.com or visit www.facebook.com/KidsHelpingKidsPasco.
TO ADVERTISE CALL 813-501-4894 | VOLUME II • ISSUE V | LUTZ MAGAZINE | 15
Cub Scout Pack 537 of
Imagine School of Land
O’Lakes - Cub Master Eric
Cupps, Amelia, Mckenna,
Lydia and Avery
/KidsHelpingKidsPasco
/KidsHelpingKidsPasco
/yahoo.com