A few weeks away for Christmas, Kelsey Chico looks forward to making someone smile during this season by helping those in need in Haiti.

  • Community comes out to give donations to Haiti
  • Girl Scout troop will go to Haiti to deliver donations personally on Christmas Day

Through a Girl Scouts' project, Chico got her community involved by giving donations for families living in poverty in the Caribbean island.

“As a Girl Scout, I love to help my community and after learning that Hurricane Matthew left 1.4 million people in devastation conditions, I knew I needed to take action,” Chico said.

With the support of her troop and family, this mission is becoming a reality.

“I felt really empowered, and I felt very excited when I saw the donations on my front porch and I just wanted to thank the community and the people around me for how they responded to my project and awareness, and how grateful I am as a Girl Scout to make a difference and know that the people around me can help,” said Chico.

Adding to her feelings is the excitment that comes from Chico and her family getting to hand out these donations in person.

“We have been very fortunate to be working with a shipment company that has sponsored us to take all the donations free of charge. They will be collecting the donations on our behalf and they will be sealing it and by Dec. 25, we will be arriving to the island of Labadee in Haiti so we can personally deliver these donations to the needy in Haiti,” said Vanessa Chico, mother and Troop Leader.

The Consulate of Haiti in Orlando will also be present to help distribute clothes, shoes and bottled goods, among other things, during this visit.

“I feel so grateful, happy. I can thank her because she’s so young and doing so much. Haitians are going to be happy to see you when you come to Haiti and see you so young, thank you so much” Shneidine Jean Louis Adonis said.

More than 2,000 pounds of donations will be taken to Haiti this upcoming Dec. 23, but people can still leave their donations at 4661 Anson Lane, Baldwin Park by Dec. 15.