Poquoson Club Donates $1,500 to Orphan Helpers

by Joe Discenza

(Above: Kiwanis Club President Walt Burns and Greg Garrett)

The Kiwanis Club of Poquoson donated $1,500.00 to ORPHAN HELPERS, continuing its support for this charitable organization dedicated to helping children in Central America. Greg Garrett, a prominent Hampton Roads Realty leader, accepted the award on behalf of Orphan Helpers.

Orphan Helpers is a multi-denominational Christian ministry dedicated to serving and ministering to the spiritual, emotional, educational, and physical needs of orphaned, abused, and incarcerated children. They are the preferred partner in government-run orphanages and detention centers in El Salvador, and Honduras.

Greg and Libby Garrett founded Orphan Helpers in 2000. Greg has spent countless hours raising money for Orphan Helpers and has traveled to Central America nearly 35 times. In 2005, Greg was selected as a winner of the Good Neighbor Award presented by the National Association of Realtors for his work and devotion to Orphan Helpers.

The Kiwanis Club of Poquoson, at 120 members and growing, raises over $40,000 every year, primarily from its Barbecue functions, to support local, national, and international charities such as Orphan Helpers. The club also provides thousands of volunteer hours supporting the elderly, the USO, community assistance projects, and tutoring at Poquoson elementary and middle schools.