Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Brancato.
Hi Bridget, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Thirty seven years ago, after Hurricane Hugo, Barb Mains and two friends went out into the country intending to do a “little volunteer work”. But as Barb describes it, “We found a whole different world from our own. We found people living without bathrooms or running water- with holes in their roofs and floors-people so poor they had no beds, no stoves, no shoes. Until that day, they had never imagined this kind of poverty-right next door to our own snug and comfortable lives.” Barb Mains’ life changed that day- and the lives of countless others have been changed as a result.
Help 4 Kids now provides more than 3,000 children in Horry County with food, clothes, shoes, school suppllies, personal hygiene items and sometimes even support for a field trip or school photos.
We all know that education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. But children without enough food, decent clothes, a pair of shoes that actually fit-those children aren’t thinking about how important school is.. or about college being the best way to get out of such an enviornment. We hope to change those basics and make a great start on helping kids be what they have the potential to be.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We have heard a lot of negative comments about the “undeserving poor”. They make bad choices. They have been helped before and it didn’t change anything. They expect us to bail them out and never say “thanks”. But even if every comment has a kernel of truth in it, remember this one thing-poor children cannot and should not be blamed for mistakes adults make. Sure – if you spend a lot of time helping others, you might get taken at one time or another. But remember the lesson on forgiveness? If a good deed goes without reward, do not let it keep you from knowing that there are innocent children who truly need your help.
We rely on the community for volunteers and monetary assistance.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a 100% volunteer organization. We focus on school aged children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. We also help families in need. We are most proud to be there when any one in the community needs us. We feed 3,000 children food for the weekends throughout the Horry County School System. We deliver food on Thursdays and the teachers place the bags of food in the their backpacks on Fridays so that they have food to eat on the weekend. We also provide backpacks filled with school supplies at the beginning of the school year. We offer new clothes, shoes, and hygiene items throughout the school year. We provide food during the summer when children are out of school and do not receive free breakfast and lunch.
Any big plans?
We hope to continue of mission of “No Child Hungry” . We hope to add more businesses as active volunteers, collection sites, and fundraisers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.help4kidssc.org
- Instagram: help4kidssc
- Facebook: @Help4kidssc
