Supplied for school

By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Yasmyn Gutierrez, a child served by the Farmworkers Self-Help Inc. organization, will turn 5 next week. She, along with about 41 of her friends, received an early present Friday; a new backpack filled with school supplies, a book and some flash cards.

"It's a wonderful bag!" Yasmyn exclaimed as she admired her Disney Princess bag.

The supplies came courtesy of Projects of Pasco, an organization that provides children in need with new backpacks and school supplies to start off their school year. San Antonio Rotary paid for the book bags and provided lunches for the children, who also were treated to a Dade City Trolley Tour (and a corresponding tour of the citrus museum and packinghouse, adjacent to the Dade City Business Center) as well as a tour of the train museum and movie theatre.

"I like it here," Chris Manriquez said smiling as the 4-year-old sat aboard the Dade City trolley.

Before they received their bags, the children - accompanied by Bob Loring, an affiliate of Projects of Pasco and executive director of East Pasco Toys for Tots; Joey Wubbena, director of internal services at Dade City Business Center; and several representatives of San Antonio Rotary and Farmworkers Self Help - got a crash course in Dade City history. They rode the trolley, toured what was at one point the world's largest orange juice plant, and saw a model train set that depicted the city of Dade City in the 1950s and '60s.

They saw two historical films about the origins of their hometown, and learned pertinent facts from trolley tour guide Tom Powell.

"Ninety percent of all oranges in Florida go for juice," he told them.

Leonardo Salgado, 8, said he was told beforehand that he would "get some stuff and learn some stuff" during Friday's event. He enjoyed the experience.

"It's fun," he said.

"My bag is cool," added Reyes Figueroa, 9. "It's comfortable. I can put stuff in it at school and bring it home."

Following their tours, the kids lined up to receive bags in solid and patterned colors, or with children's characters that ranged from Spider-Man to Dora the Explorer.

"It feels great to be helping these kids," said Anna Fulk, executive director of Projects of Pasco.

And the kids will benefit greatly from the effort, said Margarita Roma, executive director of Farmworkers Self-Help.

"This is one thing less the kids have to worry about as they start school," she said. "There are so many things they have to have as they start school, and now they have them.

"It's so exciting for them to be chosen," she said.