WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- A Winter Haven nonprofit saw a tremendous need at a motel near New Beginnings High School.
- Winter Haven nonprofit builds play area for kids living in motel
- Volunteers raised money and set up the play area
- Before the play area, the kids were playing in the parking lot
Faith Xtreme’s director Sean Fielder said he would drop off kids there after school and realized there were 40 kids living there with nowhere safe to play.
The organization’s volunteers raised money and set up a whole new play area for the motel community Saturday. The kids living there helped build it too.
“The nearest park is I think two miles up that way," said Fancy Osborne, who lives near the motel. "I know a lot of people out here are struggling. Not a lot of people have vehicles. So to walk two miles with bunch of kids can be hectic some days. So I think with that out there it will save a lot of stress, not only for parents but everyone out here.”
Osborne said her child’s father got in a motorcycle accident, causing them to lose their housing and move into the motel back in June. She stays home with their young daughter while he works.
Before Faith Xtreme and the kids built the sand box, Gaga ball area, and volleyball net, the kids were playing in the parking lot.
“Before all of this happened, like people was playing in the road and one of the little boys down the road almost got hit,” said Jamal Nelson, who lives at the motel with his mother and two siblings.
Fielder hopes other organizations look around at the motels in their communities, and see how they can fulfill the needs of children there too.
“The joy from it is unbelievable," Fielder said. "I mean it’s a lot of hard work but the payoff is going to be here for years to come from what we did.”
The project was financed by a Facebook fundraiser.
Fielder said his volunteers posted about the project and were able to raise $1,000 in one week.