Constanza Day 3: The team started with a lifting session at a local gym and made breakfast of eggs, fruit, cereal, and yogurt with some local honey. We then went to the school, where we split up as teachers’ assistants in English, physics, and kindergarten classes. 🍽️📚 During recess, we introduced the game “spikeball” and had multiple games going with all the kids. We had a delicious school lunch of egg salad and fried rice, played kickball, assisted in afternoon classes, and then ended our time at the school with a competitive game of volleyball! 🏐 Our final team member joined us, and we went together to the Divino Niño statue. Then we went back to the school to help with the boys’ soccer practice, where several team members joined in on an intense game with the kids! ⚽️ Dinner was back at the team house, and then we did daily reflections before grabbing some ice cream at a favorite local shop! 🍦 🌎 In partnership with @seedtosowerministries

Constanza Day 2: Our team woke up for a quick run around the town, then had a delicious breakfast of eggs and fruit. After breakfast, we went to the school and Ark for a tour and to meet some of the kids. ✨ Then, we went to a waterfall, where we got to cliff jump and swim. We hiked up to the top of the waterfall for the view and chatted with some tourists from France. After, we had a lunch of leftovers and went to church at the school with the ark kids. 💙 We played bingo with the kids and then came back home for a supper of yummy rice, beans, fried plantains, pork, lemonade, and fresh mango. After supper, we sorted donations and had nice team time reflecting on the day together. 🫶 🌎 In partnership with @seedtosowerministries

Constanza Day 1: It was a big travel day, with the team meeting in Miami from several different states! We all know each other from different chapters of life, so it was special to get to be in person and travel the final leg of the trip together. ✈️ Once we landed in Santiago, our group was able to go through customs in record time and stopped by a roadside restaurant for some delicious Dominican food, including plantains, rice, beans, and chicken. We made the long, winding trek up the gorgeous mountain to Constanza, where the team got to touch base about the week, unpack, and explore the house we’re staying in. 🍽️🇩🇴 Along the way, we gave a ride to and got to know an incredibly talented boy from the baseball ministry who is trying out for the Yankees the next day! ⚾️🧢 The team did daily reflections on the long travel day and ended the night with a home-cooked meal with a couple from our partnering ministry in Constanza. 💚💙

Here are some special moments from our most recent service trip to the Dominican Republic. This journey means so much to us, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible. 🇩🇴💙 We dedicate this trip to the memory of Pastor Dave Ricketts, our Board Chair and a team captain, whose leadership and vision continue to guide our work. He will always be in our hearts. 🙏 🌐 To learn more about this trip, visit: hereforkids.org/blog/dominican-republic-jar-apr-2026

Here's a throwback with last year's team in Constanza as we get ready to welcome another this weekend. 🇩🇴 We hope for safe travels ahead and a great week of service! 🙏

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our Board Chair, Pastor Dave Ricketts. Dave passed away of natural causes while doing what he loved most – serving. Dave lived a life marked by faith and an unwavering commitment to loving people well. His contagious joy and unique ability to make everyone feel seen impacted our HFK family and the many communities he served. Dave leaves a legacy of service and devotion to honoring God in all he did. 🙏 We remember Dave through these photos that capture the heart and joy he brought to so many over the years! We love you, Dave. You will be deeply missed, and never forgotten. 💙 Please keep Dave’s family and loved ones in your prayers. You can support his family by clicking here: https://gofund.me/3dc687ba2

We are so excited to announce that we have officially added a new service trip back to Mexico next month! 🇲🇽 Join us in serving in Tijuana as we support the community alongside our partners, The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. This weekend trip offers more flexibility and is open to everyone. We would love for you to be part of our team! 🫶 📝 Learn more and apply here: https://www.hereforkids.org/service/2026-tij-may

Here’s a view into our recent service day with @realitysf and their children’s ministry, The Village! We collaborated to host a hands-on service project where kids helped assemble backpacks filled with school supplies for students we’ll serve on HFK’s upcoming trips. 🎒✨ 🤍 Read more & see behind-the-scenes photos here: hereforkids.org/blog/rsf-village-mar-2026

Jarabacoa Day 6 with @seedtosowerministries: Our final day for our small team began at the Ark Children’s Home with a soccer tournament, in which some of us played as part of the Seed to Sower team while others cheered them on. Take note of the blue jerseys and the fact that HFK is the primary sponsor of the team this year! ⚽️ The tournament began with a recognition of Randy, our founder, and his more than 20 years of ministry in the DR, many of which were spent on the field where the teams were standing. HFK played a huge role in helping provide the resources, both financial support and people, to create a high-quality location and regulation-sized field so the ministry can host tournaments like this and serve the community. 🫶 Our small team then made their way to the beach for a short time of relaxation and reflection. We had another large thunderstorm this evening, but some of our team braved the high waves and jumped off a rock into the ocean for a quick, refreshing dip before dinner. 💙 Our team has thoroughly enjoyed our time together on our first HFK Board and Alumni trip! We hope to have more trips like this in the future, so if you are an alum of HFK and want to join us, either on your own or with your family, please reach out! We would love to put together a trip for you in the future. 🙏

Jarabacoa Day 5 with @seedtosowerministries: We said goodbye to a wonderful family, but not before getting a tour of another school, Seed for Sowers’ flagship campus. There are two schools, serving students from early childhood through high school, and together they support hundreds of kids from some of the most underserved families in the area while providing an incredible education. We were guided by a longtime team member who has faithfully served in the DR for decades, making the visit even more meaningful. 🙏 After the tour, the family headed to the airport with our gracious hosts to begin their journey home. Meanwhile, the rest of the team returned to the school for more PE classes and to wrap up some woodworking projects. The younger students especially loved playing games and sharing lots of laughs. ✈️💙 Following a quick lunch, we spent time sorting through a huge amount of donated items, mostly clothing, organizing everything by size and type so it can be distributed where it’s needed most. 🫶 We wrapped up the day back at the Ark, spending time with the kids and watching the older players practice for an upcoming soccer tournament. There was even a chance to jump in and play while others cheered from the sidelines. ⚽️ We ended the day at a local restaurant with the coach, his son, and several players. It’s been a full and joyful day, and a great way to wind down as the week comes to a close! 🍽️✨

Jarabacoa Day 4 with @seedtosowerministries: What a full and fun day! 💙 We kicked things off with more pickleball and helped the final group of students learn the game. They came in with big expectations and lots of excitement and it definitely delivered. So many laughs and smiles on the court. 🫶 Later, we delivered a bunk bed our team built to a local family. Two kids who had been sharing a worn out mattress now have a brand new bed to call their own. The excitement was immediate and contagious. Moments like this are hard to put into words. 🤍 We also spent time hearing stories from the early days of the care center. Through every challenge, one thing stood out clearly: faithfulness and provision have never failed. In the afternoon, we cooled off with a swim in a nearby river which was the perfect way to relax and soak it all in. 🙏 We wrapped up the day with a shared meal and time to reflect together. Hearts are full, spirits are high, and while we wish the trip was longer, we are already dreaming about coming back! 🇩🇴

Jarabacoa Day 3: We went back to the school and caught the flag salute with the kids singing their national anthem. 🇩🇴 We met our goal of finishing two bunk beds and will be delivering one to a family from the school in great need! 💙 Introducing pickleball to all the grades during PE was a total hit! 🙌 We had the chance to hear from @seedtosowerministries, who shared meaningful stories about the ministry and the real impact it’s having in the communities they serve. It was inspiring to learn how lives are being changed through this work. 🙏🩵 In the afternoon, we had a special visit to the Arc (residential compound), where we helped lay cinder blocks for a new building and then spent time playing with the kids… so fun! 🎉

Jarabacoa Day 2: We visited Palo Blanco, a community where many kids face real challenges. What stood out most was the impact of the school and its dedicated teachers sharing the message of Jesus and a new path forward. The kids take that message home, and you can see real change happening. 🙏 Our team split up to serve. Some built bunk beds for families in need while others joined PE classes and recess. So much fun! 🛠️🙌 Then came the rain. Buckets of it with thunderstorms and lightning. But that didn’t stop the soccer. Muddy, soaking wet, slipping and sliding everywhere and lots of laughs. ☔️⚽️ We ended the day with an amazing BBQ hosted by a local family and heard their story of years of serving the school community. 🍽️ An amazing day full of mud, rain, and so much fun! 💙

Take a closer look at the incredible impact our Liberty & Friends team made during their recent service trip to Costa Rica! 🌎💙 We couldn’t be prouder of this group for coming together to paint an entire school while serving in Barva. Their hard work and heart made a lasting difference! 🇨🇷 Check out their story and see photos from the trip here: hereforkids.org/blog/costa-rica-mar

Jarabacoa Day 1: We were excited to finally get to meet each other in person. It was so nice to have our pre-trip Zoom meetings because we felt like we already knew each other. And finally meeting in person did not disappoint. We all commented on how much we already love our team! 🙏 It rained off and on, and it was nice seeing the calming effect the rain brought. The DR has a very special uniqueness about it. 🇩🇴 We ate a DELICIOUS home-cooked meal made by the cooks, a traditional meal that included arepita and fried yucca root shavings. 🍽️ Things were super well organized to receive us, and we already filled our calendar with activities for each day. The next day, we’ll be mostly teaching classes and making bunk beds for families in need. 💙 Everyone traveled well and was anxious to begin our service projects in the morning! 🙌

Happy Easter! 🩵 Sending love to our community today. We hope your day is filled with joy, time with people you care about, and moments to reflect on the hope and meaning this day brings! 🙏

In honor of our upcoming service trip to the Dominican Republic, we wanted to highlight this throwback photo with Angie Kosich - back in 2006! 🇩🇴 We love seeing the long-term impact we're able to have on the lives of our participants. HFK is so excited to have her serving with us again 20 years later! 🙏🤍

We have some very exciting news - swipe to the end to learn more! 🙏🎉

Meet This Team Captain: Diego Rios 🌟 Diego has been part of Here For Kids since 2015, and the mission has shaped both his personal and professional life. His passions align closely with HFK’s focus on kids, sports, Latin America, travel, and faith. This will be his third year leading the Palmira trip. Each year brings growth, deeper partnerships, and a stronger focus on serving others. As a Colombia native, he loves sharing his culture and country with the team. 🇨🇴 Diego is excited to lead, follow God’s vision, and create a meaningful experience where strangers become family. 🌎🫶 🌐 Learn more and apply now: https://www.hereforkids.org/service/2026-pal-may

So great to be reunited with our Biola & Friends Trip Participants at the Biola Missions Conference. 🌐 Thank you @BiolaSMU for the invitation and great hospitality once again. We love being able to connect with students and other organizations through your events! 🙌

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