Back to School 2014 UPDATE

Back to School is such an exciting time.  It is also stressful for many parents as they get the ginormous list of items that are needed each year.  It seems that it is continuing to grow. 

Thanks to you and your generous giving, we are able to help several hundred kids each year go back to school with the necessities.  While you may not realize it, this is a HUGE thing that you do!  Donations were down a bit this year and we were concerned that we might not be able to do as much as we usually do.

Thanks to you we were able to do more this year!

Thank you for giving of yourselves this year to help encourage children to do their best this year.

Thank you for praying over this event and spreading the word so that others can get involved and give.

Thank you for your monthly support that allows us to do more than we ever thought possible.

Thank you!

We had a few events where we gave them out with a few churches that go out into the community and pick up kids that want to come to church, but don’t often have a way.  That is always fun and I’m thankful for churches that still provides transportation to anyone that wants to attend, but wouldn’t be able to because of transportation issues.

Each year, one of the things I look forward to is personally handing out the bags in neighborhoods that have a great need.  Yep, you read that right – I go out and deliver them personally.  This keeps my heart tender and on the lookout for other ways to encourage the discouraged.

My plan of leaving early that Saturday morning and getting them handed out before the heat set in fell through.  After 3 evening of 3 to 4 hours of sleep, I was simply exhausted and took my time getting ready.  I smile at that thought because I had no idea that God was putting me right where HE wanted me and at just the right time.

I got to the neighborhood around 11:30ish. I saw one of the Mom’s sitting on her porch.  I decided to see if I could find some kids and then I’d come back to her.  The heat had all of the kids indoors that day.  I drove back to the mom sitting outside.  Got out of the car and then realized that she didn’t look too happy.  As I got closer to her, she recognized me.  She gave me the biggest hug! I told her what I was doing and she said that everyone would be thrilled as they truly needed help this year.

She also told me that she was just sitting on her porch wondering and praying about what she was going to do due to an emergency situation that had just come up.  She had no food and nothing for her daughters very first day of school.  We talked for a little bit.  I told her that she had some hard choices ahead of her but “for right this moment” let’s go hand out school supplies.  So we left and spent the next 3 hours individually handing all of the bags full of supplies.  I decided to let her hand out the majority of them.

People hugged her, thanked her and the kids were super excited! They laughed and shrieked with delight.  I got several hugs as well.

May I remind you – when your world is falling apart, do something for someone else.  It will help!

In the car we laughed and giggled with delight.  At one point she said “Wow, you get to do this every day” and I laughed and said “Yes, I do.  Still not as much as I’d love to, but yes.”  We discussed my “day job” and the fact that I volunteer for Spreading Joy just like everyone else does.  It’s an honor to do this.

YOU – yes, Y O U can do the same! Spreading JOY daily is fun!

Knowing the situation at hand and the tough decisions that are going to be made, I took this young mom shopping for groceries.  I let her out, allowed her to shop and I went to a neighboring store for school uniforms for her daughter.  4 Shirts, princess underwear, shorts, pants later, she had several outfits for her first week of school.  I returned to the grocery store and she had filled her buggy. I looked and there wasn’t “anything fun” there.  I couldn’t let that happen.  So we went down the cracker/cookie isle and I asked about the favorites.  We tossed in a few more things and then checked out.

I helped her take her groceries in. We talked for a little more and then I prayed with her. Trusting the situation to the Lord, asking for wisdom, strength and courage to step out.

Had I left that morning as planned, I would not have seen her sitting out on the steps.  I would have missed the opportunity to really bless this family.  While I had no idea, God knew.  I’m just thankful to be a vessel for His service!

Thank you for being a huge part of this journey this family is on! Thank you for handing out hope with us again this year! Thank you for caring for others and for doing what you can to help.

Thank you for your donations and prayers to make this possible.

Thank you for Spreading Joy with us and for doing so daily!

YOU Matter, YOU are Spreading JOY!

Here is a link to some of the other major events we’ve been part of over the years.

Here is a link to our some of our accomplishments.  No way could we list them all as we truly do strive to make a difference daily for someone.

What’s next you ask?  Well….Christmas, of course!  Would you start giving now?  Will you start planning now?  Will you be part of Christmas JOY this year? Here is a look at last year’s Christmas Update. 

Thank you in advance for your love, prayers and support. 

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