“Little Hands, Big Hearts” collects supplies for orphanage in Columbia

Pleasant View Elementary third graders Emma Bush and Madison Adams and their parents spearheaded a school and community collection for an orphanage in Columbia, South America that began in January. The girls call their project “Little Hands, Big Hearts.”

Collected items included pencils, paper, crayons, toothbrushes, bathing suits and stuffed animals, said Bush. A large box containing the supplies was sent to the Hogar Corazonista Hermano Policarpo in Baranquilla, Columbia last week.

Bush is the daughter of Jeremy and Amy Bush. Adams is the daughter of Josh and Stephanie Adams.

Bush said her dad’s former math teacher is now teaching in Columbia and they wanted to do something to help the people in the area. Her dad found an orphanage online that was located nearby and she decided to do a collection for them.

Adams and her family worked together with them on the project. The girls are next-door neighbors and best friends.

Some of the collected school supplies were donated back to Pleasant View Elementary classes.

The families are continuing to collect supplies for Columbia. Since the cost of shipping to Columbia is expensive, they’re going to send two shipments a year, said Jeremy Bush.

The girls and their families also want to begin a collection for the Morgan County Backpacks program.

“That way we’re helping kids here too,” Emma Bush said.

If interested in donating supplies for the orphanage in Columbia or for the Backpacks program, contact the Bush family.