Where the Story Begins...
The Ocala National Forest
Our story begins in the mid 1800's when the first white settlers arrived to the Ocala National Park. The ground was sandy and not conducive to growing crops so the settlers survived by fishing and hunting. By 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt established the Park as a National Forest with 490,000 acres for which the government could sell and lease land. By the 1920's logging companies arrive and provide jobs and land development. By the 1930 's everything changed, when natural wildfires devastated the land leaving the community out of work as well as the market crash, leaving properties abandoned and families struggling.
About Pastor Dave
Inspired by his own childhood experiences of rural poverty in the Ocala National Forest, David Houck, who is married with fourteen children (including several he adopted from the Forest), founded the Help Agency of the Forest, Inc. in 1993. His mission helping these impoverished children is how we the "Friends of Sozo Kids" support his efforts.
David’s early life was marked by a lack of basic necessities, such as proper footwear, new clothing, and sufficient food. This challenging background fueled his passion to help children break the cycle of poverty and become productive members of society. As a pastor in the Ocala National Forest, David has dedicated his life to this mission.
Many of the children Pastor Dave and Tammy adopted have participated in the programs and have gone on to attend college and universities, gaining hope and opportunities for a brighter future.
