present – Little Known Help Zone

KTI Summit

July 31, 2015May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

On Tuesday, Little Known Help Zone had the honor to speak at the Keystone Technology Innovators Summit at Shippensburg University. I was the keynote speaker and had the opportunity to share how to ignite passion in the classroom, the same topic which started Little Known Help Zone.

I shared my journey in the classroom and abroad, talking about both my learning and volunteering/projects. The audience included 120 “best of the best” teachers and Assistant Department of Education Secretary Matt Stem, all of which expressed such enthusiasm and support. The presentation also included a Q&A section. This resentation was the first to receive a standing ovation, a truly humbling experience.

An added bonus, $801 was raised towards Little Known Help Zone causes. This is the most money ever raised, and this was an unexpected surprise. The generosity and kindness of everyone was truly beautiful and heartwarming. Etsy orders also emerged, as well as many new twitter followers. All of this support helped Little Known Help Zone grow, and it was a wonderful experience seeing so many people care about causes abroad.

See the wiki page here: http://kti2015.wikispaces.com/Makenna+Lenover

Here’s the back channel! https://todaysmeet.com/Makenna

Stay tuned to se where all this donated money will go! Hint** Since it was an education conference, students abroad will be aided!

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

The Backpacks Have Arrived!

January 9, 2015May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

So happy to announce the children at Hogar de Amor received their backpacks.

I was sent this adorable picture, and it is so heart warming to see them arrive and brighten the children’s day. Now they are set for school which starts next month!

Thank you again to DIP Shipping for making this possible.

Check out Helping Honduras Kids, a great organization doing amazing things in Honduras.

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

3 More Backpacks

December 12, 2014May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Just as the Little Known Help Zone backpacks for the 5 new orphans at Hogar de Amor were sent, it was discovered that 3 more children of the ages of 3, 5, and 10 were added to the home!

Little Known Help Zone knew the need to send more was there and went out and purchased items for the three girls. These are on their way to Honduras, with shipping generously provided by DIP shipping. Funding for these backpacks was earned through fundraising efforts from earlier this year.

Check out the new backpacks!

Fundraising, My Community

Costa Rica Bracelets- Now On Etsy

November 20, 2014May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

If you were intrigued by the bracelets being sold to benefit Costa Rica, you can now purchase one for yourself on the Little Known Help Zone Etsy shop!

There’s a variety of color combinations, and they are great gifts for both boys and girls, kids and adults!

The bracelets are selling for $6 each, and all of the proceeds go to the Costa Rica Jumpstart Program to help a child go to an intensive 4 week camp to learn English through amigosofcostarica.org

Buy bracelets here at

https://www.etsy.com/listing/158520659/recycled-reclaimed-soda-pop-can-pull-tab?ref=shop_home_active_13

They make great Christmas gifts!

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

Backpacks Going to Helping Honduras Kids Hogar De Amor

November 2, 2014May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Little Known Help Zone is happy to announce that due to the success at the Western Fundraiser, backpacks can now be sent to the new orphans at Hogar de Amor Children’ Home in La Ceiba.

If you remember, Little Known Help Zone sent backpacks to 22 orphans for Christmas last year, and since then there have been 5 new additions to the family: 2 sisters and twins and a brother.

Little Known Help Zone is sending all 5 of these children backpacks full of toys, candy, and learning/school supplies. The children are also receiving Little Known Help Zone crayons!

Little Known Help Zone would like to extend its greatest thanks to DIP Shipping, who has made international shipping free. Check out this wonderful company at Dipshipping.com

If you would like to read more about Hogar de Amor, visit helpinghonduraskids.org and be sure to sign up for their newsletter!

Soon to come, pictures of the children receiving their bags and a video sharing the current state of the Little Known Help Zone goals!

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

Christmas Wrap Up

March 15, 2014May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Now that the frigid weather is finally behind us, let’s wrap up the Hogar de Amor Christmas project.

The children received their presents and were so delighted! I received many pictures from the orphanage and I will post a few below as well as link the dropbox with all the photos.

Little Known Help Zone would like to again thank everyone who made this possible, you truly impacted the lives of children in Honduras and for that we are grateful.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jfc7mm9yitip8i0/dKFRgsbiYt

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

The Christmas Gift Extravaganza

January 3, 2014May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Christmas is a wonderful time, and Little Known Help Zone is happy to announce that they’ve donated over $4000 worth of Christmas to the Hogar de Amor Children’s home in La Ceiba, Honduras. Months worth of love and effort have been put into this project and it is finally complete.

Here’s a little bit of information about the gifts..

Every child received a backpack filled with wrapped presents. gifts included remote control cars, sports supplies, school supplies, toys, games, makeup, candy, and other items that were on the children’s wish list. Many nights were spent wrapping the presents and sorting the items amongst the children to ensure an equal distribution of wondrous items!

This project was made possible by…

Bixbee Backpacks
Alex and Isabelle Hair Ties
Just Born Candy
Essence Cosmetics
Streetline Inc.
DIP Shipping
And many other generous sponsors

Little Known Help Zone extends its fullest thanks to all the generous sponsors who made this project possible, we couldn’t have done it without you!

The presents are officially on their way! Shipping was a bit of an issue, but after discovering a company known as DIP Shipping, the $3,000 rates decreased to $400. Thanks to a very special angel, the shipping was made possible and I find it a true blessing this final obstacle was tackled. The presents are on their way and should reach the orphanage within days.

Here is a photo of the children holding a picture of me with the presents! You can see everyone is joyous, as they enjoyed a delightful Christmas day.

Fundraising, My Community

Bixbee Backpacks

December 25, 2013May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Have you ever heard of Tom’s, a buy one give one company? Well, the next up and coming company is Bixbee Backpacks. For every backpack purchased, they donate one to a child in need.

“Our desire to play a positive role in educating kids around the world began in 2011 with the launch of Schoolbags for Kids. Now for every designer backpack we sell, we donate a schoolbag and supplies to a kid in need through our One Here. One There.® program. We are proud to have donated thousands of supply-filled bags over the years…

Their enthusiasm about something so simple, something we take for granted, made a deep impression on him. Luis realized the children he met throughout his journey were like millions of others around the world, eager for an education but lacking basic supplies.”

As you can see, Bixbee and Little Known Help Zone share the same beliefs, that this passion towards education must be guided and helped.

I recently conversed with Luis, the founder of Bixbee Backpacks and set up a fantastic connection. Nearly every child at the Hogar del Amor orphanage wished for a backpack, and Bixbee was kind enough to donate the backpacks for 22 orphans. I was beyond excited for this generous donation and extremely grateful.

Every child received a backpack filled with presents and wrapped in festive bags!

Stay tuned for a large post about the packing process and check out Bixbee at bixbee.com

Merry Christmas!

Fundraising, My Community

Just Born Donation

December 24, 2013May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

One of the major delights of Christmastime, and every other time, is candy!

I reached out to Just Born, my local candy company, and received a very generous donation of many Mike&Ike flavors. Each child received 6 big packs of candy and I packaged them in Christmas themed goodie bags.

The children will be very excited for these treats and Little Known Help Zone extends its sincerest gratitude to Just Born for their kindness.

Check them out here http://www.justborn.com

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

Donation from Essence Cosmetics

November 6, 2013May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Being an openly admitted girly-girl, I know the true joys a bit of new makeup can bring. I turned to Essence Cosmetics, asking for a small donation, and was delighted by the response. Essence offered to send 11 kits of makeup for the girls, a very generous donation.

The kits came, and they are fantastic! They are filled with wonderful products and are a perfect addition to the Christmas presents. I am very great for Essence’s donations, and you should check out their website at www.essence.eu.

The Christmas present project has taken wonderful strides, new donors are trickling in and I believe there will be a wonderful selection of presents for the children. Soon, I will enter the wrapping phase and then ship the presents to Honduras!