For the second consecutive year, Erika Castroman’s initiative to help the homeless during the Christmas holidays was a huge success.
On December 25, Castroman, a standout softball player and academic scholar at American High School, and her family distributed 100 drawstring bags full of non-perishable food items and toiletries to the homeless community in Downtown Miami.
Castroman increased her goal to 100 bags from 50 bags which she had distributed in 2016.
Her crusade to raise awareness of homelessness was made possible with the generous help of friends, family and businesses that helped by donating goods and contributing money to purchase the items needed.
“It’s rewarding to see their faces light up and the gratitude they show us, especially when we join them on Christmas morning,” said Castroman. “Next year, I’m shooting for 150 to 200 bags. I’m sure I can reach that goal with everyone’s help.”
Her mother, Ivette Castroman, echoed similar sentiments.
“This is a wonderful campaign she started in 2016, which shows you’re never too young to help the less fortunate and make a difference in our community,” she said. “We are so proud of her.”
Castroman’s crusade caught the attention of the local TV media. WSVN-Channel 7 interviewed her for a news segment dubbed “Hope and Healing,”
a news feature on South Floridians helping less fortunate people during holidays. The news crew paid a visit to Castroman’s home to interview her and filmed her filling up the bags with the items collected for the homeless.
The segment aired a week before Christmas which helped spread the word about the charity event.
“Erika wants to thank everyone who donated to her cause, including the Miami Lakes Optimist Club, and Jim and Rosalind Hamilton, owners of the Miami Lakes Sports Shop for offering their business as the drop-off site for the items,” said her father Alex Castroman.
“The family, friends and local businesses also contributed to this very worthy cause. Erika plans to continue this campaign every year and hopes to bring joy to as many people as possible, one stocking filled with love at a time.”