Yesterday I talked about a growing movement of us that are rejecting the idea that Christmas is all about credit cards, expensive jewelery, and the latest gadget that will already be outdated by the time you crack open the box! I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy your spouse or your kids gifts, but I want to open up your eyes to a harsh reality.
Right down the road from where I live in downtown Atlanta is Bethune Elementary School. It's an awesome school with a gifted staff and some of the most beautiful children you have ever seen.
Over 97% of these beautiful children live at or below the poverty level. Many of them live in homes that are so outrageously dilapidated that you would be SHOCKED to believe that people actually live and sleep there. The weather has grown cold, but a huge percentage of these kids don't have winter clothing or jackets. Hundreds of the kids don't have shoes that fit them properly.
The school has made the great move to require students to wear uniforms, but many of the kids only have one or two uniforms that they wear every single day and don't have the sweaters and stockings and accessories to wear with them. Many of their families don't have washers or dryers to keep the clothes clean.
I haven't even gotten to the reality that a huge majority of these students will get nothing or next to nothing by way of toys this Christmas.
Together (and only together) we can make such a radical and amazing impact on these children and on the school that they will forever know that the people of God love them and show them this love through good works.
Our team is finalizing plans with the staff today and tomorrow and we are planning on doing an Oprah's Big Give style event where we just shower the school with love and blessings.
Are you down to help? To pull this off we are going to be asking you to give this ALL YOU HAVE!
We're going to need your donations! Your time! Your connections! Your money! Your gifts and skills and a whole lot more!
More details are coming…ARE YOU DOWN?
{ 5 comments }
i’m down!
my company likes to choose a community service project around christmas so i can propose this…
and i’m always down to donate on my own tho
Beth and I are down, too. Keep us posted on the details.
Count me in. I worked on a Hands On Atlanta project at Bethune a few years ago. I will always have a place in my heart for those kids.
Shaun,
You know I am down!!!
I’m a college student and I am extremely low on funds, but I am willing to offer my time. Just let me know when and where.
Shaun,
I’m down! I was feeling like this Christmas I should really give more than I received in the past. I’m a college student (which = broke) but my basic needs are taken care of. I was thinking about telling my parents that we all need to give something to somebody else that’s not in our family. I’m pitching the idea to my mom tonight!
Thanks