PHOTOS: Children unite to support Eight Waves and AdventHealth

Photos by Shari Hanson Photography

More than 100 children from the Winter Garden Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came together May 31 to serve local children through a service event for Eight Waves and children at AdventHealth. 

The project was led and organized by a group of children ages 8 to 11. A planning committee of children created posters to promote the event, organized a donation drive, and mobilized their peers to serve. The event brought together children from multiple local congregations in a unified effort to make a difference in their community.

Eight Waves is a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting underprivileged children and their families through literacy programs, mentoring and hygiene assistance.  Its programs have helped more than 1,500 local children.  “Hope grows where kids are seen, heard and supported,” said Chloe Johnson, Winter Garden city commissioner and director of community relations at Eight Waves, said. “That’s what we do at Eight Waves. Knowing we are within kids’ reach, we serve them every way we can, giving them an opportunity to be successful in all they do.” 

Windermere resident Cannon Coons, 11, one of the children on the planning committee, had a very meaningful experience in planning the donation drive and service event.

“I was happy I got to help plan a service project with other kids from my church,” he said. “It feels really good to be able to do nice things for others.” 

The children came together to make snack packs for children who participate in the Eight Waves program. Many of the program’s participants face food insecurity during the summer months when they no longer have access to the school lunch program. The children also assembled fun packs and made cards for children in the hospital through AdventHealth.

“We are very grateful for all the kids who gracefully wanted to serve and give back to local kids,” Johnson said. “They are really the hands and feet of Jesus.” 

Stake President Gary Hansen, who oversees the nine congregations of the Winter Garden Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the area in and around Horizon West, expressed admiration for the children’s initiative. 

“The example of service demonstrated by the children of the Church was truly inspiring,” he said.

For more information about Eight Waves and how to get involved, visit its website, eightwaves.org.

For more information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visit churchofjesuschrist.org.