Schoolwide Service Project a Big Success
Many of us can walk into our kitchens to find something to eat or go to the grocery store to buy food without blinking an eye. This reality, however, is not the case for an alarming number of Mississippians. The disheartening statements below from the Mississippi Food Network illustrate Mississippi’s hunger crisis:
“Almost 1 in 4 Mississippians — about 600,840 people — don’t have enough to eat. More than 1 in 4 children (24.4%) go to bed hungry most every night. Stomachs are growling all over the state. Hunger is a problem all across America. But in Mississippi, it’s practically an epidemic.”
“There are more hungry people in Hinds County (61,720) alone than in the entire state of North Dakota (55,710). More than half of Mississippi’s seniors (56%) experience regular shortfalls in food. It would take almost $300 million to meet the food needs of every hungry person in our state.”
In an effort to make a positive difference in the lives of hungry Mississippians, TRS students and their families were invited to collect and donate traditional holiday foods. Wilkes, a first-grader brought cranberry sauce as a donation. The seven year-old says it’s important for children to help people in need “because we want them to be treated the same way as us and we want them to eat and not be hungry.”
Over the course of a few weeks, TRS families donated close to 300 Christmas meal staples for families and individuals who receive care from Stewpot Community Services. “I feel like I’m making a difference because I donated my red beans and rice to people that are in need and I think that’s very nice,” says nine year-old Ziya Bunzy.
Stewpot, located in West Jackson has provided services for people lacking fundamental needs for nearly forty years. According to Stewpot’s website, the non-profit organization is open year-round to provide hungry people with a hot meal.
As it relates to TRS students, Mr. Robert Akin, TRS Student Activities & Logistics Coordinator, helped organize the Stewpot collection and says, “no matter how young they are or how insignificant they may feel, they [TRS students] can have an impact in the Kingdom and know that God cares enough about them to save them and use them to further His kingdom here on earth.”
Jesus’ life illustrates service and servanthood like no other. He literally gave His all for humanity. Through Jesus’ sacrifice and the truth laid out in the scriptures, Christians are instructed to live compassionately and generously. We want our students to not only value these characteristics, but live them out as well.
Matthew 9:37-38 says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers in his harvest field.” Will you look outside of yourself today, seek the harvest field and join the work to care for people and invite those who don’t know Christ into relationship with Him? Generosity, whether it’s time, money or another resource, seems to spike during the holiday season, but should a generous heart not be our posture year-round?
My prayer is that the heart’s of God’s people, (including myself) will be touched in such a way that we will rise up, not only to see the needs around us, but take action unselfishly and generously to make a difference for the Kingdom and glorify the Lord.
As we approach Christmas, seven year-old Alexandria was asked, “what is your hope this Christmas for the families that receive the food from Stewpot?” She says, “it is good to give them food [I hope] they will enjoy what we give them.” I imagine the families will feel grateful for the food and I hope TRS students will continue to develop their acts of service. May our Lord and Savior give us the strength and courage to become more like Him and give of ourselves to the harvest that is so plentiful around us.