Imagine how it feels to work alongside newly-acquired friends, building a school’s very first playground, and then stepping back to watch children literally jumping for joy when they FINALLY get to enjoy the slides, swings, and clubhouse. It brings tears to your eyes. Just ask any of our January 2019 construction volunteers! Read below for more information about traveling to Belize with Barefoot Children Ministries.

Items Needed for Children in Belize

Barefoot Children Ministries provides school supplies and hygiene kits for nearly 800 children every year! Thanks to the generosity of our local supporters, we rarely have to purchase these much-needed items. For a list of drop off locations, please email ann@barefootchildrenministries.org

In order to be fair while distributing donations to many children, we accept only new items.

• 24 count boxes of crayons
• Pencils
• Pencil sharpeners with cases attached for shavings
• Rectangular pink erasers
• Bar soap
• Standard size tubes of toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Combs and brushes
• Flip flops for students between the ages of 4-14 (children in Belize prefer Old Navy flip flops because they are durable and comfortable)

Volunteer Locally 

Volunteers living in St. Charles and St. Louis can lend hand at annual fundraising events:.

February’s Soup Sale to benefit the high school scholarship program
September’s Spare Change Collection to benefit the high school scholarship program

April’s Spaghetti Dinner to benefit community improvement projects
September’s Oktoberfest in St. Charles to benefit our programs most in need of funding
November’s Collection of School Supplies and Hygiene Items for children

If you would like to volunteer, email ann@barefootchildrenministries.org

Volunteer in Belize

Annual mission trips in January, March, and June continue to build life-changing connections between volunteers from throughout the United States and friends in Belize. Volunteers work in schools, distribute donations, present health workshops, and build community facilities. Our contributions to the lives of our friends in Belize pale in comparison to what they’ve given to us. With them we celebrate life in homes, schools and churches. Like never before, we appreciate simple luxuries like plumbing, electricity, access to immediate medical care, automobiles, clean cold water on a hot day and the ability to choose which shoes to wear or what to prepare for dinner. The villagers in southern Belize live happy, fulfilling lives nourished by their own harvest, unwavering faith, and a powerful sense of community. The mission experience inspires us to re-examine priorities, slow down and focus on what really matters.

Those who are comfortable with leaving the country for ten days are welcome to join us in Belize. Children between the ages of 16-18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Because immediate medical care may not be available in remote areas, participants should be in excellent physical condition, able to move about quickly without assistance, and tolerate humid climates. Above all, volunteers should be team players who are capable of adapting to changes and willing to help with any tasks. For more information, email ann@barefootchildrenministries.org.