Update on progress/donation needs

Thank you for checking in with us!  In addition to donation needs, we would like to share an update on how Helping Hands is progressing.  As you know, the goal of Helping Hands is to remove the obstacle of hunger from the learning environment. Crystal City has an excellent school and an outstanding, dedicated teaching staff.  All of the tools are in place for the children in this community to learn the fundamental skills they will need in order to thrive.  A lack of adequate nutrition is a roadblock in this process that we, as a community, have decided isn't acceptable and we've done something about it together through this program.  We are already hearing about the difference it is making in the kids' ability to succeed in the classroom!  Progress reports just came out at the school, and one teacher reported that four of the five Helping Hands recipients in her classroom have seen an improvement in their grades since starting the program.  Amazing! 

This program would not succeed without you!  Each week, donations steadily flow into the office.  If we ask for a lot, it comes in-often one or two bags at a time.  Every single item we have sent home has come directly from a family or individual in this community, and every single donation counts and is making a difference!  There has never been any type of budget or dedicated funding for this program, only a community that has chosen to open their hearts and share what they have with those who are in need.

We are in pretty good shape regarding donations, however there are are some items we are beginning to run low on, and we would like to start looking towards Easter Break as well.  The kids will be out of school April 6-9, and we are asking for a couple of things we don't normally request in order to ensure they have enough for all 4 days.  Here are some of the things we need:

Next week:
Pop Tarts
Tuna
Soup

Spring break April 6-9:
5 regular size boxes of cereal
7 full size plastic peanut butter jars
14 full size plastic jelly
Raisins
Soup PACKETS
Tuna
4 boxes of Ritz crackers (we need 12 more sleeves of crackers) 
Cans of vegetables

Please take  your donations to Crystal City Elementary School.  If you would like to donate but are unable to make it to the school when they're open, we have a couple of other places you can take your donations and they will be brought to the school for you:

• Varese Hair and Nail Spa 1552 Natchez Festus, Mo 63028, right  behind Lucas Smith Dodge.  Jenn Morgan is a stylist there, and has volunteered to accept donations and bring them to the school. On a side note:  she's an excellent stylist if you're looking to freshen up your hairstyle for Spring:)
• Grace Presbyterian Church in Crystal City on the corner of Mississippi Avenue and Bailey Rd.  If you'd like to drop off your donations and pick up an awesome, inspirational message to start your week at the same time, Pastor Dewey Johnson delivers one every Sunday at 10:45 AM.  And stay tuned...Grace is hosting a Peanut Butter/Jelly drive on April 29 to help stock the shelves with these much needed items!

Thanks for EVERYTHING you do and have a wonderful week!

March 16

Thanks to all of the donations that have come in over the last few weeks, we still have enough to send home full bags with all of the kids on Friday, 16.  Thanks for all you've done!  If you would still like to donate, please feel free to drop your donations by Crystal City Elementary School and they will be stored for the weeks to come. Keep checking back for updates!

Thankful

We are so amazed and thankful with your response to this week's donation needs!  At the end of last week, we were facing pantry shelves that were nearly bare.  At the same time, we knew there was no reason for worry.  Every time we ask, the people of this community step forward and help.  There has been such a tremendous amount of support given to this program from both organizations and individual citizens-Thank you all!  Because of your generosity, we have everything we need to send all of the kids in the program home with full bags this week and next Thursday, March 8.  If Helping Hands has become a part of your weekly routine and you would still like to contribute, you can still drop off donations at Crystal City Elementary school and we will keep them for the weeks to come.  Please keep in mind that, even if your donations aren't used this week, the need will definitely come and anything you contribute will be saved and will go directly to children in Crystal City Elementary school in the coming weeks.  Thanks again and have a wonderful week!

We made it through February!

Helping Hands had another great month!  We made it through the last full week in February with enough donations to send all 26 kids home with full bags for the weekends!   As we were preparing bags for this weekend, we were blessed to find that we had just enough to take care of all of the kids.  While it sometimes makes us a little nervous when we begin to run out, we have seen this community pull through for these kids time and time again, and we know we can continue to serve them through Helping Hands.  We are really starting to see the benefit of this program through these childrens' grades and behavior.  Your donations are helping to make it possible for them to reach their full potential!

 March is right around the corner, and there are alot of needs for Friday, March 2.  Following is a list of items we are completely out of or only have a few of:

Pop Tarts
Mac and Cheese (packet or box)
pudding cups
Ravioli
Beefaroni
Soup/Stew
Chili
Tuna
Individual cereal boxes
Granola Bars
Sleeves of crackers

We also need 19 more full size plastic jelly jars to send home for March.

The list is long, and we have alot of needs.  We only ask for what we need, and you come through for us every time.  If we all pull together and give just a little, as we have for the past few months, we can continue to ensure that the children in this program will receive the nutrition they need to get them through the weekend.  Thanks so much for all you've done, and all you continue to do!  Please take donations to the office at Crystal City Elementary School. Thank you!

Donation needs for February 24

Hello!  Thanks for checking in with us! Following is a list of items we need in order to send bags home on Friday, February 24:

Crackers
Ravioli
Soup
Pop Tarts
Individual boxes of cereal

Please drop off donations at Crystal City Elementary by Thursday, February 23.  Thanks so much for contributing! 

Update for week ending Feb 17

We have had an abundance of donations over the last couple of weeks-thank you!  As a result, we have everything we need to send all 26 kids home with full bags on Friday, February 17.  Thanks so much for all of the contributions! 

Ongoing needs are:  Full size peanut butter and squeezable jelly, which are sent home monthly. 

We update this blog every week to communicate the status of donation needs for the upcoming weekend, so please visit this site frequently if you would like to help!

Update of needs for Feb 10

Thanks so  much for all of the support that came in last week! We had a great week for donations and had enough for all 26 kids in the program. The following is a list of items that we are still running low on, and need more of in order to fill the bags for Friday, February 10:

Soup
Cereal
Ravioli
Pop Tarts

Ongoing needs:
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Plastic Bags

We have had several inquiries into monetary donations for Helping Hands. We would be more than happy to do the shopping if you would rather donate money! Checks can be made payable to Crystal City School.  Be sure to put helping Hands in the memo of the check so the funds can be properly allocated.  Cash, checks, and of course food can be dropped off in the office at Crystal City Elementary.
Thanks and have a great week!