Natural disasters cause community-wide trauma that has lasting impact on residents long after the rains subside, the wind settles, and the media trucks move on. For children, these events are even more devastating and frightening. Getting back to a regular routine in safe and familiar schools can help children struggling with the aftereffects of natural disasters. Working in disaster-affected areas to help promote positivity, volunteers build and donate new bikes to children in need.
Natural disasters cause community-wide trauma that have lasting impact on residents long after the rains subside, the wind settles, and the media trucks move on. For children, these events are even more devastating and frightening. Many children develop serious symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Harris County, an area still recovering from Hurr. Harvey, recently experienced devastating flooding from Tropical Storm Imelda. In some areas, Imelda dropped over 40 inches of rain in 72 hrs.
Getting back to a regular routine in safe and familiar schools can help children struggling with the aftereffects of natural disasters. The work required to repair schools and ready them for students' re-entry is costly and challenging after disasters, especially given their already taxed budgets. Can'd Aid works with low-income schools in disaster-affected areas to help offset many of the school's needs and to add programs for children that help promote positivity through Treads & Trails.
Can'd Aid recognizes the need certain communities have for exercise opportunities and offers a unique solution to the ever-growing problem. Through our program, we rally volunteers and provides them with equipment, tools and instruction to build bikes. When the builds are complete, the new wheels are presented in a surprise assembly to an entire grade. Professional athletes are part of the assembly, teaching the students about the importance of exercise and keeping dreams alive.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
