This summer, the Consuelo Foundation participated in a project in partnership with the Tuckey Family and El Refugio de San José in Colombia. Through this collaboration, the Consuelo Foundation was able to sponsor a classroom of kids aged 6 to 13 by donating backpacks and warm sweaters for the young boys and girls.

About the Community

El Refugio de San José, part of a community in Chiquinquirá, Boyacá, is run by the Carmelite priests and provides services to children from low-income families in the region. Their programs include after-school care and the creation of a loving, nurturing environment for the children.

Delivering the Supplies
Ten-year-old Phillip Tuckey had the idea to gather backpacks and fleece sweaters for the children. The supplies were dropped off at the Tuckey household, where Phillip enthusiastically got to work organizing everything. On July 31st, the Tuckey family traveled to Colombia and personally delivered the items to the children. Maggie (Phillip’s mom) shared that the children were overjoyed and greeted them with many hugs.

Phillip’s Experience
“I was so happy to mark and give all the bags to the kids. It was really funny when I
spoke English to the kids and they tried to guess what I said. The kids were really nice
and I had a lot of fun. I felt like I did something good that day. It made my heart feel
really happy.”
A Moment That Moved Maggie
“The moment that touched me the most was when Phillip said he felt like crying from
happiness just for being there. All the kids were hugging him.”

This project reminded us of the joy that comes from giving. It was inspiring to see a young person like Phillip lead with such heart, and we are grateful to the Tuckey family for delivering these items with love. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this moment possible! At the Consuelo Foundation, we believe small acts of kindness can leave a lasting impact. We look forward to sharing more stories like this in the future.