"The pack is beneficial for the kids getting to experience walking and learning weight shifts that they otherwise wouldn't do," says Michaela Patterson, a physical therapist who worked at the centers. "[It exercises] core control, head control, and they can get weight bearing through their feet to help with bone density and overall joint health… Being close to caregivers helps them to attach better and learn what that healthy attachment looks like, and really just get to play the way that kids are supposed to play." Kevan is a gifted storyteller and wrote a memoir called We Carry Kevan that beautifully details his travels and the powerful lessons he and his friends have learned through their experiences. The book was published in April 2019 and can be purchased on the organization's website. It is also available in paperback and audiobook forms through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. In addition, Kevan's friends have created a documentary film and miniseries about his trips to share inspirational stories with a broader audience. Kevan continues to write and travel and enjoys speaking with individuals and groups about his testimony and how God continues to work through the ministry of WCK. In December 2022, the 2.0 edition of the backpack was released, with new improvements to its unique support and adjustment features. [photo attached] We Carry Kevan has a video tutorial on their website, and a volunteer technical consultant is available to talk directly with families about customized adjustments for individual situations. Over the past three years, over 800 backpacks have been distributed to more than 30 countries worldwide. An estimated one-third of these backpacks are distributed through a scholarship program for those who need financial assistance. As the request waiting list grew longer, WCK realized there was an impersonal disconnect between the donors and the recipients.
As a solution, WCK created a "Causes" page on their website that holds a collection of profiles with photos and stories of individuals who request sponsored backpacks. Each profile shows a financial goal, the total amount needed to cover the pack, shipping fees, and international import taxes. A progress bar indicates how much each cause has raised and what is still required. Each profile also has a personal goal, sharing briefly what trips or activities the person hopes to do with their WCK Backpack. Donors and visitors to the site can peruse the profiles and choose which ones they want to support. Donors will receive communications about when the goal has been reached, and they may decide to follow that person's backpack journey long-term. It gives families a voice and donors a personal connection, ultimately building community, which is the heart of We Carry Kevan. "We love this new way for families to be seen and heard," says Kevan. "I believe there is a sense of hospitality that can be found in our needs, if we invite people in, and this new family-specific crowdfunding platform is a perfect example. As families share their need for a backpack, community comes around them to provide and grow closer together. Our hope is that these fundraisers are just icebreakers for deeper fellowship to bloom."
12 | Hope Is Now Magazine
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