BAGS OF LOVE

One teacher noticed how dirty a little girls coat was and wanted to wash it for her over the weekend. The teacher went to the coat closet and got the little girl a clean coat to wear. The little girl was very hesitant on switching coats. The teacher assured her she wouldn’t get in trouble and the little girl exchanged coats. When the teacher got home what a surprise she found in the little girls coat. She emptied the pockets only to find rolls the little girl had taken from the lunch room so she would have a little something to eat over the weekend. The teacher then understood why the little girl didn’t want to give up her coat.

We have heard the same type stories from many teachers dealing with hunger. The little children will get upset on Fridays or before a holiday break crying to the teachers to take them home with them. When asked why, the children will say, because they don’t know what they will eat while they aren’t in school. Teachers have been taking it upon themselves to send a few items home with these children. When we brought Bags of Love into their schools the children weren’t the only ones restored. The teachers are so excited and are being restored as well that the community is also caring for these children.

The first time Bags of Love was being sent home a little boy looks in his book bag and asked the teacher “what is this in my bag?” The teacher replied, ” That is food for you to eat over the weekend!” The little boy actually tears up and then gets excited thanking the teacher because he always goes hungry. This same teacher said that on Monday mornings the kids are normally tired, not real active and in a hurry to eat their breakfast and always ask for more. After receiving Bags of Love she noticed on Monday they were happier, more active, taking their time eating and ready to learn!!!

After just two weekends of sending the Bags of Love home to the children one parent writes back a note. ” You really should call this a Bag of Life because that is what it has given to my child, life” The teacher states this is a Mom that has become harden from all the trials she has had in life. So to get a note like this from her really excited all the teachers.

Knowing the children who receive Bags of Love are in need of other items, we wanted to get them hats and gloves to put in their bags before Christmas break. We didn’t have the funds but waited and prayed that God would provide. An email came in from one of the schools that we are providing Bags of Love for in Marlow. A group of church ladies had handmade hats and scarves and gave them to the school. After they took what they needed they contacted me to put the rest to good use. We had exactly what we needed for the rest of the students we were providing Bags of Love for!

Bags of Love is not just another feeding program in the county. Bags of Love is a restoring program for the community,  children, teachers, parents, and the schools. There are schools in the county that don’t have PTO’s because they just couldn’t get enough parents to participate. Some areas parents are just not financially or physically able to take part. When One Hope takes on a school with Bags of Love the ones helping fill the bags for that school honestly adopt that school as theirs. They then want to get even more involved and truly want to help where needed. The community then is made aware of needs and with awareness comes help. With us all helping one another Hope is restored which makes for a much happier and closer community. It won’t take long for the good word to get out and we will continue to see improvement in the community as well as the education of our children.

We would love to help you get started in the Bags of Love ministry! Just give us a call at 304-261-4007 or email bagsoflove@onehopeministriesinternational.org and we will explain how to get started.

REAL STORIES

A teacher writes: “I do cafeteria duty for Kindergarten and First grade lunch. Mondays are always rough, many children are starving. They clean their trays in a matter of minutes and are asking for more. As with anything else the kitchen is on a budget and can’t give out extras. These same children had finished all their food and still had the watermelon rind left. They would take the watermelon and chew off paper thin strips of the green to try and get a little more to eat. Just so sad to see these poor children be so hungry. ”

At many schools before a break, there is a feeling of excitement, especially winter break for Christmas. The children at my school share this excitement but it is bittersweet. Many students school is their only source of stability. It was so very hard a couple of years ago when one our Kindergartners started to cry on the last day before break. When asked, “What is the matter?” their response broke our hearts: “What will I eat this week?”