JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville nonprofit organization is giving back to a community in Colombia it says lacks basic human resources.
This Christmas a nonprofit organization ‘Reaching the Unreached' is hosting a charity event that will go towards feeding children in Colombia and gifting toys for the holiday season.
First Coast News spoke to the founder of ‘Reaching the Unreached’ and why he's taking action to help these children.
“We want to show these kids that hey, it doesn’t matter how far we are that someone’s there for you.” said Max Morel, the founder of Reaching the Unreached. "There is a community here in Jacksonville that cares enough that we're gonna bring you a Christmas that you've never had before."
Morel hopes to bring a Christmas miracle to children living in poverty overseas. Thursday, his nonprofit is hosting 'Beyond the Canopy: A Night for Change' with hopes to bring Christmas to Colombia.
Morel and his organization have already helped more than 5,000 families in need. He's hoping his event will help even more families by providing basic necessities like food, water, and toys for the children.
Morel said he started the nonprofit to give back and inspire others in the community to do the same.
“My brothers and I, we came together and one of our trips when we went abroad, we said okay how can we give back to this community, and it was a community that was simply amazing, and we ended up in a neighborhood called La Maria,” said Morel. "It's a slum in our terms here in the United States."
On their last trip, Morel and his brothers donated 7,000 lbs. of food and 135 toys to children living in poverty in Colombia. Morel said this wouldn't have been possible without the help of the Jacksonville community.
Beyond a canopy will take place Dec. 19, from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m.
To learn more about the organization, you can click here.
