Pastor Dave Houck recently met with members of The Villages Masonic Lodge.

Tom Papin presents SoZo Kids representative Carol Mordas with a check for $400 to help the organization continue its mission of helping children living in the Ocala National Forest.
Pastor Dave Houck and his wife, Tammy, head up the Help Agency and SoZo Kids to help break the generational cycle of poverty for families and children who live in the Ocala National Forest.

The founder of SoZo Kids shared with the group stories about the struggles faced by children growing up in the Ocala National Forest. A product of the forest himself, Houck started SoZo Kids, the non-profit Help Agency and Salt Life Church 25 years ago to help the thousands of children and families who live in extreme poverty in the forest.

SoZo Kids provides food, summer camp, school supplies, mentoring, clothing, personal hygiene items, job skills, dental treatment and other assistance. And they just had a Christmas party and gifts for 1,500 children.

“We are stopping a whole generation of stuff from happening,” Houck said in a recent Villages-News.com article, explaining that he doesn’t want those children to know the poverty, drugs, prostitution and hunger their parents grew up with. “We’re breaking a generational cycle. We’re helping to change the future for these kids.”

Members of the Masonic Lodge donated a significant amount of winter coats and jackets, as well as clothing and food. A collection also was also taken up and the group presented a $400 check to help SoZo Kids continue its mission.

For more information and how to help, visit www.sozokids.org.

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