Limes Goes Back-to-School

Next week, the local Grenadian children head back to school.  And that means that the Limes after-school program starts up again!  As the volunteer coordinators, Kelsey and I wanted to do something extra special for these kids to get them off to a great start for the school year.  We talked about wanting to do book bags and lunch boxes for the kids but we were unsure if we were really able to do both.  I decided I would ask my Mom if she could help donate some things to the program.  She and my Gramma went above and beyond.  They made bookbags for EVERY kid and sent supplies to fill them!

Mom and Gramma with the finished product!

Yesterday, we had our back-to-school kickoff party at Grand Anse Beach.  Kelsey, and a bunch of other SO volunteers met at the Limes field and helped walk the kids over to the beach.

When the finally arrived at Grand Anse, we spent about an hour or more playing in the water.

I got attacked...



But Miss Kelsey helped get them back!



And then I found some nicer little girls to play with :)

Eventually, we got them out of the water and ready for lunch.

And finally, it was time for the main event!

Surprisingly, there were barely any complaints about which color book bag or lunch box each kid received.  The kids were all thrilled to get anything at all.  They would have been overjoyed with a single pencil.





A special thanks to every volunteer that came out and helped.  I know that with so many kids it can seem overwhelming at times, but the kids LOVE the attention and you really are making such a difference in these kids lives.

And an even bigger thanks to my Mom and Gramma who spent quite a few days buying the materials and sewing the book bags for the kids they had never even seen or met.  I love you both very much and appreciate all that you did.  And so do the kids.  I wish you could have been there to see their faces when they got their bags.  I guess the pictures will have to do.

Limes afterschool program starts back up on Tuesday.  I hope you'll come out and see us all again!