World Vision goes around the world to find the "true spirit of Christmas"

Since November 19, World Vision and thousands of people around the world have been traveling the globe in search of the Christmas spirit as part of the Christian humanitarian agency's "Spirit of Christmas" tour.

The month-long tour features interviews and stories with children and families in the United States, Ecuador, Cambodia, Zambia and Ethiopia. World Vision's team will be highlighting both the heartbreaking circumstances of the poor and the inspiring impact even small donations of a few dollars through World Vision's Gift Catalog can make in helping families around the world care for their children.

Here is the team's story from the first stop in New York City.

Tour Stop #1: Bronx, New York

New notebooks for Jerome's first day of a school and a "good luck" note from the person who put it together.

Today we went to visit one of the places where World Vision is working domestically - the Bronx. With high unemployment rates and rising poverty, this is a tough neighborhood for anyone to grow up in.

Last Friday was Jerome's* first day of fourth grade. He couldn't start school on time this year because he was in the hospital. The saddest part of his story is this isn't the first time this has happened to him.

You see, Jerome suffers from something that he calls "the alligator mouth." Of course, "alligator mouth" is not the scientific name. But, at just 9 years old, he has had more than six major surgeries, which have left a long scar that, at least in his mind, looks like a skinny snout full of large teeth. What he really has is Prune Belly Syndrome, a rare condition that means that Jerome lacks all or most of his abdominal muscles, making it hard for him to grow and develop like he should.

He came to school in a baggy red coat and loose pants, sporting a new blue backpack. When he was standing, he looked like a normal kid-maybe a little short for his age-but nothing too out of the ordinary. When he sat, however, I could his sharp knees poking the edges of his pant legs-giving me a glimpse of Jerome's real size. 

Not only is it hard for Jerome to keep up with the other kids in his class physically, it is especially hard for him to focus on his education when he can't go to school. His mom, Robyn*, told us that, "at least half his life he's been in the hospital."

To make matters worse, when Jerome hasn't been in a hospital, he, his mom and his three brothers have been on the run. "We have been in and out of [domestic violence] shelters," she told us.

Being a single mom with four boys and constantly having to move, from city to city and state to state, has made it very hard for Robyn to be able to provide for what her boys need. Right now she has no job and no income. She and her boys are living in a domestic violence shelter while they start their lives over once again.

Buying school supplies for four children was going to be more than a stretch for Robyn this year. But, thanks to World Vision, her children each received a new backpack loaded with notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, and everything else they needed to start the school year. "It made it much easier for me," she said, "It was a blessing. Thank you."

Jerome shows us all the supplies he has to start his new school year.

And for children like Jerome, who face odds few of us can imagine, a new backpack is more than a place to keep books and carry their school supplies; it is like getting a fresh start on life because they are given the chance and the tools they need to succeed in school.

Timothy Bomgardner, Director of World Vision's programs in New York, told us that each year the demand for school supplies and backpacks increases. This past year they had more than 25,000 requests-far more than they were able to fill.

If you would like to learn more about how you can give the gift of school supplies to children like this in the United States, visit www.worldvisiongifts.org/backpacks.

*Names have been changed and identities hidden for the safety of the individuals of this story.