Backpack Program

by Jaime Forrest


Yesterday Marci, Leah Beth, and I met with Mrs Petty at Castle Heights Upper Elementary. Mrs Petty is the head of family resources for the Lebanon schools(Byars Dowdy, Castle Heights, Sam Houston, LHS, and Coles Ferry). She was wonderful to talk to and work with.

It was a huge eye opener to be hands on, packing these bags of food into bends for these teachers to place into the kids backpacks. It was also a wonderful feeling, because no matter what, these kids are precious.

Mrs. Petty made a HUGE point, one that I already live by...and one that I wish would reach out and weigh heavy on those out there. "Why do so much extra for yourself, when you already have plenty. When you could instead do something for someone else?"  I hope a lot of people remember that when they are wasting their money on alcohol, or expensive purses, or striving to be well known with power with wealth. How much is enough for yourself before you finally realize that dumping so many fancy things into your life is not even half the feeling of what you could do for others.

A point that should be made is that it's human to think "well these parents need jobs" "these parents or guardians are just looking for a hand out..." And sometimes, maybe that is the case. But try to remember...IT IS BETWEEN THEM, AND GOD WHAT THEY DO WITH THE BLESSING WE ARE GIVING THEM. It is not for us to judge or point fingers or try to figure out. The purpose is to get healthy food into these kids, and to try to point these parents in the right direction to be able to provide for their own families.

There is an actual Advisory Council for Lebanon. I spoke with Mrs Petty about sitting on that council....and so I will be. The first meeting (for me) is Friday February 18th. I am very very very excited to get even more involved and hands on.

***For the GBG Girls****

Here are dates for upcoming events. Please let us know at our next meeting if any of these dates work for you to help :)

Tuesday-February 15th...Wednesday-February 16th...Thursday February 17th
3:00 - 5:00---Family Resource Center
Help sort, stage, and shelve canned Food
(Friendship Christian School is having a food drive, and these are the days we'll be sorting the food as it comes in)

Tuesday February 15th. 7pm--Community Meal Meeting

Thursday February 17th--Darkness to Light:Child Sexual Abuse
6:00-8:30 Castle Heights Upper Elementary
**ladies, I have all the flyers we will be taking around in Lebanon to pass out**

Saturday March 12th--Immanuel Food Giveaway 9-1

Wednesday March 2nd 1:00 --backpack distribution
Thursday March 3rd 9:00am--backpack distribution

Tuesday-Thursday (April 5th-7th) Basic Financial Training
We need snacks for each night---AND greeters

Wednesday April 6th 1:00--Backpack Distribution
Thursday April 7th 9am--backpack distribution

Thursday May 4th--Pre-K Registration
College Hills COC---Call Ms Beth for jobs and times

***There are more events than just these. As I get more info, I will post more dates and times. Please check your calendars to see if you can go ahead and sign up for any of these things :)