Concord Students Participate in Trip of Hope

Concord student Maizy Landreth sold homemade bath bombs to help a child go to Walt Disney World.  
Photo By Maizy Landreth

Several members of the Concord community are participating in Trip of Hope, an organization started by Concord alumnus  Brandon Hicks and Blake Farmer with the sole purpose of taking 20 underprivileged children in the area to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

    While the idea for this organization occurred to Hicks when he met a small child whose dream it was to go to Disney World, Blake Farmer, who currently works in Concord University’s Office of Advancement, helped organize the trip every step of the way. From organizing fundraisers to recruiting chaperones, Farmer has helped direct the organization to its goal of taking these kids to Disney World for Thanksgiving. While a heavy undertaking for himself and Hicks, Farmer assured that this trip “wouldn’t be possible without our motivated chaperones and the individuals who have donated.”

    Each of the 20 children Trip of Hope is taking to Disney World will be accompanied by an adult chaperone, many of which are Concord University students. These students have not only done their share to spread awareness about the trip’s goal, but have also taken donations and participated in fundraisers to raise enough money to take themselves and their child sponsor on the trip.

    One chaperone, Maizy Landreth, senior and Recreation and Tourism Management major, has taken a creative approach to helping raise funds for the trip. Under her brand “A Little Bit Amaizyng,” Landreth has sold Disney-themed bath bombs, scented bubble bath balls made with organic ingredients. What started as an experiment in her cramped dorm turned into an outlet for her to raise at least $500 for her trip to Disney.

    Another student, Sarah Vance, junior and Communications Arts major with an emphasis in Public Relations, has taken part in a Rada cutlery sale fundraiser organized by Farmer to help pay her way to chaperoning one of these kids. Vance says she has reached out to her friends and family through social media for financial and spiritual support. “I just can’t wait to show these kids exactly how big this world is and how possible it is to obtain their dreams as long as they have a little hope (hence the name of the trip),” Vance said.

    Kelcie Lowe, junior and Elementary Education major, joined the trip when Farmer, knowing very well about her deep love for Disney and working with children, told her Trip of Hope was looking for chaperones. In an effort to spread awareness about this trip, Lowe has spoken at her church and talked to people all throughout her hometown of Narrows, Virginia, garnering the support of many along the way.

    With experience working with at-risk and foster children through Children’s Home Society and Royal Family Kid’s Camp’s Princeton division, Ricki Smith, senior and Social Work major, was thrilled to become a part of Trip of Hope. Like Vance, Smith has also shared the news of this trip through social media and has raised money through selling Rada cutlery, as well as holding one of many painting parties hosted by Farmer. While she has already hit her goal, Smith promised she would continue to inform people about the hardships of foster children. “We have a hope for the future of them all, that one day they are able to achieve all they have dreamed of and that they do not feel limited by the fact that they were in foster care, but empowered by it,” Smith said.

    With just a few more weeks to go before setting off to Disney World, the chaperones and founders of Trip of Hope are almost ready to make this dream a reality. Thanks to their hard work, 20 children will be taken out of their rough realities to spend their Thanksgiving in a place where dreams do come true, as evidenced by this trip.