Many kids in our generation have a strong desire to be involved in making the world a better place. The youth at Hazelwood share that feeling and want to be more involved in giving back to our community. Inspired by another youth group, we have recently taken on a hands-on community service project that will allow us to do just that, and we want to invite the rest of the congregation to participate.
This simple, yet powerful, project aims to help the less fortunate in our community. These people often do not have easy access to many of the basic necessities we take for granted each day- clean water, food to eat, and a clean body. To help fill these needs, we have put together Blessing Bags. Contained in each gallon-sized bag is a bottle of water, peanut butter crackers, dried fruit, a granola bar, beef jerky, a rain poncho, tissues, a toothbrush (with a cover to keep it clean), toothpaste, mouthwash, a bar of soap, deodorant, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, a small manicure set, and lip balm. These bags can have such a huge impact in people’s lives and each was filled for about $7.50!
The idea is to take a bag (or two!) and store it in your car. The next time you come across someone in need, don’t drive by! Stop, hand them a Blessing Bag, talk with them (pray with them!), invite them to church. These small acts of kindness can mean the world to these people who don’t have much and are so often overlooked or ignored by those who pass by.
We would love for the entire church to join us in this service project. Thirty Blessing Bags have already been assembled and are ready to be given. If you would like to take a bag to hand out, you can pick one up at the sign-up table in the Rotunda on Sunday morning.
We don’t want the blessings to stop at only 30 bags. If you would like to contribute funds to continue this service project, one of us will be at the sign-up table after worship on Sunday to accept donations. You can also donate by placing a check (separate from your regular offering, please) in the offering plate, just be sure to write “Youth-Blessing Bags” on the memo line.
~The Hazelwood Youth
