USA (MNN) — For Haiti with Love is holding their 20th annual "Christmas in August" on August 20th in Florida.
The event is their only real fund raiser for the entire year. They hope to raise $5,000 which will cover the costs of gifts and a meal for 1500 children on Christmas day. "We try to give all the boys a soccer ball, and all the girls get a doll. And we pass out Mardi Gras beads," said Eva DeHart. The meal consists of chicken and rice and beans.
There is also formula that has been donated that will be shipped. The price of shipping costs depends on the size of the formula donation. Any support raised above and beyond the $5,000 will be used to cover shipping expenses.
Planning is crucial for such an occasion. "We start doing this in August because when
you ship by sea, it takes two or three months sometimes. So logistically we need to plan well ahead for an event like that," said DeHart. There will be ground, air, and water shipment in order to make the event happen.
The purpose of the Christmas party in Haiti is "to put the focus on the Messiah's birthday, to have a big birthday party, to get the children focused on Christian roots, but also to give them things that they might want rather than just things that they need and generally put a little hope into their lives."
The event in August in the U.S. will bring joy to Haitian children in December. "They need a little sunshine in their lives," said DeHart.
