Community joins together to fill 200 backpacks for kids

The Giving Gators charity and Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid hosted their annual backpack and school supply drive on July 16 at town hall. Two hundred students received backpacks stuffed with supplies and books, organizer Daylin Garcia said. At the event, kids and their parents could register for a public library card; learn about tutoring, support for special needs students and internships as well as apply for scholarships. 

Shown above are volunteers and sponsors, from left:  Daylin Garcia, Giving Gators Inc.; Louise Gestwick, Miami Dade County Public Library representative; Chelsea Bohigas and Daeling Cerrato of Specialty Smiles; Celine Hernandez of Gigi’s Playhouse volunteer (kneeling); Priya Pitre, Mathnasium of Miami Lakes; Judy L. Farcus, Headquarter Toyota; Carmen Docurro, Miami Dade County Public Library representative; Vivian Levy, vice chair, Miami Lakes Special Needs Advisory Board; Nancy Rogers, chair, Miami Lakes Public Safety Committee; A.J. Donaldson, The EPIC Foundation; Mayor Manny Cid; Raymond Garcia, Giving Gators volunteer; Laura Fabricio, Giving Gators volunteer; Jesenia Orellana, Miami Lakes Special Needs Advisory Board member;  Hector Abad, vice chair, Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board; Maurits Acosta, Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board student member; Kevin Menendez Macki, Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board member and Adasis Bautista, Miami Dade County Public Schools teacher and volunteer.  Photo courtesy of Giving Gators.