NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Each month Erica Karaoulanis fills up her car full of supplies to deliver to Pasco Kids First. She's part of a group called Tampa Bay Newcomers. They were looking for a way to give back to the community they love.
"They would bring me the items and I would deliver them," Karaoulanis said.
When COVID-19 hit and they couldn't meet in person, they came up with another way.
"So I had an idea, that what if I get the monetary donations from the ladies and I do the shopping and so, this is how it started," she said. "This is where we are now."
Maria Hixon is the Director of Development for Pasco Kids First.
"We focus on prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse and trauma," Hixon said.
She says the supplies Erica delivers are desperately needed.
"We happily see her each month dropping everything off and we help load everything up and then we disperse those to all of the programs at our agency," Hixon said. "So that they go in the hands of the staff here to utilize as well as the children and the families depending on what it is."
When Erica walks inside with her delivery, she's reminded why this work is so important, seeing a wall of t-shirts created by young victims of trauma.
"Because once you see it, it goes straight to your heart," she said. "So we know what we're doing is needed and we're doing it."
She says it's a visual reminder that each snack, drink, toy and art supply, is helping kids in the community heal.
"And it's rewarding. It makes you change as a person."