VERO BEACH — The Buggy Bunch of Vero Beach has won a $25,000 grant for shade structures at city parks and now the organization is turning to local doctors to match and make the funds go even farther.
“That would be so wonderful,” said Buggy Bunch member Shantarra Houston of making that $25,000 grant grow to $50,000 – and with it doubling the number of parks the organization could impact.
Houston, herself, has been in town for about a year and is a frequent park visitor with her young son, Logan. But the lack of shade at many parks keeps them from staying for long.
“It definitely limits our time at the parks,” Houston said.
The first to help the Buggy Bunch double its funding was Dr. John McDonald, of Indian River Skin and Cancer Center, who presented the organization with a $1,000 check Wednesday.
“It struck me as something that would be very, very helpful,” Dr. McDonald said of providing more shade structures at the city’s parks.
He said that sunblock alone is not enough to keep kids safe.
“You have to catch them,” Dr. McDonald said of young children who would rather run to the playground than be slathered down with sunblock. He added that sweat – especially on a hot, summer day – would quickly wash away the protection, rendering it ineffective.
The Buggy Bunch, with its “Good Neighbor, Good Shade” application, was one of 40 organizations to receive the $25,000 Cause An Effect grant, beating out 60 others in the process.
“We are excited about that,” Houston said of having been selected.
As for which parks the organization will target for more shade, she said the group still needs to meet to decide but Pocahontas Park on 14th Avenue would most likely be one of them.
Cyntheria Collier, with her 5-year-old daughter, Alexa, said more shade at Pocahontas Park would go a long way to keeping them there longer. They were leaving the park when informed that the Buggy Bunch was considering targeting Pocahontas Park.
Alexa’s brow was beaded with sweat, as was her mother’s.
“Lord knows I was moving from seat to seat,” Collier said, pointing out the various benches – some of which were in shade provided by the trees.
She noted that there are areas of the park, especially near the swings, where shade would be most appreciated.
“She gets dehydrated very fast,” Collier said of Alexa.
Fellow park-going mom, Cheryl, said that skin cancer is a concern because it runs in her family. Having more shade at the park would help better protect her 3-year-old daughter, who doesn’t care to wear her hat. Cheryl added that she’s constantly putting the sunscreen on her daughter, as well.
“If they want to donate shade, that sounds great to me,” she said of the Buggy Bunch and local doctors.
“It’s a very important issue, sun exposure,” Dr. McDonald, adding that skin cancer risk starts at an early age and that it is “crucial” to protect kids from the harmful UV rays.
He encourages other doctors, including dermatologists, pediatricians, oncologists, and radiologists, along with the general public to help match the $25,000 grant from State Farm. The grant will provide shade at a quarter of the city’s parks – while the match could expand the coverage to 50 percent.
Anyone interested in donating or learning more about the Buggy Bunch is encouraged to call 1-855-FL-BUGGY or visit www.TheBuggyBunch.com.