Jennifer Koegel first traveled to Aruba in the mid-nineties with friends. Then returned in September 2006. That year the RIU Palace was being built as the Aruba Grand was closing, she remembers, but a friend of her parents hooked her up for a unit, and the next thing she knew, she was renting his unit and booking flights to Aruba.
She did it again, the following year, and the following year again.
“From that point on,” she explains, “it was all over. I bought my own timeshare unit and returned with my children, as well as my parents. We have been traveling as a party of seven since 2011, when my daughter Jessica was just two months old.”
Five years ago, Jennifer became involved with Imeldahof following a FB post, where the director indicated the children’s home could use a donation of socks, underwear and sneakers for its residents,
Since then Jennifer has been spearheading projects on the island. Her work as a social worker allows her much flexibility and in her leisure she works on behalf of her favorite island’s children, collecting school supplies, in collaboration with other Aruba aficionados, benefiting a local school for children with special needs.
As her daughter, Jessica Pfeiffer, was growing up, she has been helping her mom shop and organize donations, and at age ten suggested to her Girl Scout troop leader, to fundraise for Imeldahof, as a recognized activity earning the scouts a community service badge. The troop contributed all items donated and this inspired another troop from Long Island to do the same, when they read a post on All Things Aruba on Facebook.
Jennifer reports she also raised enough funds to purchase much needed chairs, tables, and a whiteboard for homeschool@Paradera, in addition to school supplies, brought to Aruba by enthusiastic volunteers from the US.
Two businesses in her areas volunteered to serve as drop off locations for an ongoing school supplies drive.
Jennifer’s next goal, is fulfilling the reading list for homeschool@Paradera, so that the kids don’t have to share books but each have their own copy. Jennifer got the reading list from the local teacher and is now organizing the purchase and transport.
“I have hundreds of books scheduled to arrive here, over the next several months,” she says, “with the help of volunteers, we plan pickups, drop-off and thank-yous, on behalf of the kids.”
“We aim to promote this as an easy do-good, and encourage travelers to repeat their donations on future trips while inspiring others to do the same.”
My mission,” she shares, “is for children to have the resources they need and deserve, in the spirit of “No Child Left Behind.”
