FELLSMERE — From First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach and Grand Harbor to the Green Ladies Club, and IMS Partners Inc., hundreds of volunteers and donors ensured that nearly 700 students will be headed back to school with new backpacks and classroom supplies during Operation Hope’s 13th annual Backpack Giveaway held in Fellsmere Saturday, Aug. 11.
Among the volunteers who lined the tables to hand out the backpacks was Jo Ann Daniel, a resident of the Orchid Island Beach Club and relative newcomer to Operation Hope.
“It’s a Christ-like thing to do,” Daniel said of participating in the giveaway. “It’s what Jesus would do.”
“Naturally, it’s a good feeling,” Daniel added, noting, though that she was concerned what would happen when the students run out of their needed supplies.
Daniel, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, was one of many who contributed to the cause and helped out on Saturday, according to Pastor Tom Harris.
“It was just one of those providential opportunities,” Pastor Harris said of getting involved with Operation Hope, explaining that the church had gotten started by providing backpacks to those in need in Vero Beach. They then learned of Operation Hope in Fellsmere and began helping to provide food weekly and on holidays to the organization.
“Jesse’s great to work with,” Pastor Harris said, referring to Jesse Zermeno, the president and founder of Operation Hope. “He’s doing great work.”
Fellsmere grandma Melinda Ross brought her two granddaughters to the event, having heard about it from her uncle who is involved with Operation Hope.
“I thank the Lord what we have here,” Ross said, explaining that the girls’ mothers work hard and the little bit of money they have goes straight to bills, with little left over to take care of school supplies.
Tyresha McIvry, 10, and her 4-year-old sister, Aleah Parker, both said they liked their new backpacks. McIvry picked out a purple and turquoise bag – Parker a pink bag with a large sunflower on it.
McIvry said she was excited to have the backpack and the supplies.
“It’s great,” said fellow recipient 13-year-old Daniela Solis, who will be in 7th grade at Sebastian River Middle School. She said she probably would not have been able to go to school with armed with the things she needed if not for the backpack giveaway at Operation Hope.
By the end of the event – which took just a couple hours to hand out 542 backpacks – Zermeno said he was happy, but tired.
“We have a few left over,” he said Saturday afternoon, but quickly added that he had fielded many phone calls from families who had to work Saturday and requested a backpack. He fully expected to hand out the remaining backpacks by Monday.
“I think that’s phenomenal,” Zermeno said of having started the week with a mere 325 backpacks and ending with nearly 700. “We’re going to bless a lot of children.”
In years past, Operation Hope has topped 800 children and backpacks. This year, though, the crowd and number of bags were smaller. Zermeno attributed it, in part, because other organizations have also stepped up to send children back to school with supplies.
“Everyone is chipping in,” he said.
Among those who helped Operation Hope was the Vero Beach Chick-fil-A restaurant located at the Indian River Mall.
Shanci Robinson, marketing director for the eatery, said this was the first time the restaurant has gotten involved in such a community event, but it won’t be the last.
“It was fabulous; it was awesome,” Robinson said of being able to provide free food to those who provided school supplies. The restaurant gave each donor a free chicken sandwich in appreciation of them dropping off supplies.
“It was a win-win,” she said.
Other organizations that helped out included the Operation Hope Soccer League, which sold water and soda, and the McMullen for Sheriff campaign, which donated barbecue and other food.
