CENTERVILLE -- For the next three months Aimee Smoot of Centerville will bring relief to infants and toddlers left by their parents in an Ecuadorean orphanage. This volunteer trip will be the 18-year-old's first time away from home. The Orphanage Support Services Organization (OSSO) sent their first volunteers, mostly college-age, in May 1999. Since that time the organization has sent over 800 volunteers.

"I want to be able to make a difference," said Smoot in anticipation of her trip. Smoot will leave for Ecuador May 4, and will spend three months in the country. Smoot first heard of the program through a family member. "My cousin went, and I always thought it would be really fun," said Smoot.

Later when a close friend signed up for the program, Smoot decided to volunteer as well.

Even though Aimee signed up after her friend, she will head out a month earlier.

The teen has always had a great love for children.

Smoot was employed with a day care, attended child development classes and tutored elementary children in the past couple of years. She also volunteered at South Davis Community Hospital.

Smoot is a Viewmont High graduate and attends UVSC.

She said she is excited and nervous to leave in a week.

The mission of OSSO is to do everything possible to help children living in orphanages and similar institutions to reach their full potential.

For more information check www.orphanagesup port.org.

sclarke@davisclipper.com