As a supporter of Pencils For Kids, Inc., you will make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families, and play a role in heart-warming stories like these:

At a two-classroom school in Thailand (K-2nd grade in one room, 3rd-6th in the other), children were sweeping the grounds when PFK arrived, their homemade brooms made of tree twigs and leaves. The grounds were immaculate, not a leaf, or piece of garbage to be seen anywhere. After we delivered backpacks to 77 kids, the Student Body President, a 6th grade girl, shared how she had stayed up all night praying to Buddha to keep our group safe. She couldn’t imagine why these wonderful people were bringing school supplies or how we found them in their little village, but she was so grateful. She had never imagined that anyone, other than her mother, would think she was important.

Driving down the road to our first PFK-sponsored school in Bali, we suddenly saw children pouring out of nowhere. They began chasing our caravan and running a long-side. When we walked into the school the rest of the kids were lined up perfectly and patiently waiting. The school principal told us that many parents reported their kids couldn’t sleep the night before, they were so excited about receiving their backpacks and uniforms — these would be the only presents they get all year.

Nearly all the children we support in this beautiful country are in orphan homes. They are either true orphans with no family, or they have been “given” to the orphan home because tragically their parents can no longer provide for their clothes, food or schooling. A few of the orphan homes are monastic nunneries, run by Buddhist Nuns, and filled with girls from babies to high school age. The girls have shaved heads and wear soft pink monastic robes, rather than school uniforms. We provide all with backpacks and new robes, which they immediately change into! They are so proud and grateful to have a new set of clothing, their smiles beam and their eyes shine with joy.

In Bali, schools tell us their enrollment increases each year as word spreads that children who attend a PFK-supported school receive much-needed school supplies and mandatory uniforms absolutely free. Children who otherwise would not attend school are now being enrolled, as parents who can’t afford to provide these essentials for their children will drive or walk an extra distance for their children to attend a PFK school.

As we are a sustaining program, we get to watch our kids grow up and, year after year, see the same beautiful, smiling faces proudly in line for school supplies. I mentioned to one parent (through a translator) how tall her son had become in one year. The mother smiled and said, because of PFK, “we eat chicken now.” Before, the high cost of school supplies meant that the family couldn’t afford to buy or raise protein. Instead, they subsisted on rice and vegetables that they grew.