Another amazing week!

What an amazing week!  Special thanks to the Festus-Crystal City Rotary Club for inviting us to their meeting this week.   Opportunities to share this program are such a blessing, and we appreciate the community support! 

We had a really great week in regards to donations.  Thank you so much for your generosity and for making this program such a priority.  All of the kids in the program went home with full backpacks this week, and we have enough to do the same next week.  If you've made Helping Hands a part of your weekly shopping trip, or if you're visiting us for the first time and would like to contribute, we  appreciate  your donations!  All donations can  be dropped off at Crystal City Elementary School and will be used to continue to feed Crystal City kids on the weekends.

Thanks and have a blessed week!

Have a wonderful Easter!

Thanks so much for again answering to our needs!  All of the Helping Hands kids went home with plenty of food to get them through the 4 day Easter weekend!  We can't say it enough...God has really blessed this community with caring, compassionate people who are willing to share what they have!  We are amazed each week at the generosity of this community, and so thankful for all you do.


The donations were so plentiful, we have enough for next weekend as well.  As you enjoy this Easter weekend with your families and friends, please remember the Helping Hands program and the children we serve in your prayers. Have a Blessed Easter!

Donations needed for Easter weekend!

Hello!

Thank you for another great month!  March was incredible, and we had all we needed each week!

That brings us to April, and we have a few extra days that we need to think about.  Next week, the kids will be out of school April 6-9.  We would really like to send the kids home with some extra items to ensure they have enough for the long weekend, and we are running low on several items that we need in order to be able to do that:

Tuna

Macaroni and Cheese 

Oatmeal

Soup 

Ravioli

Since it's a short week, we could really use these donations by Wednesday, April 4.  

Thanks again for continuing to contribute to Helping Hands!  Your efforts are making a big difference!

Donation needs for March 30

Hello!  Thanks for checking in!  We're beginning to run low on several items, so any help would be greatly appreciated!  In addition to next week, we are currently preparing for Spring Break.  We are asking for some items we don't normally use in order to provide enough food for the long weekend, yet make the bags light enough to carry.  Following are the needs for the next couple of weeks:

For March 30:
Mac and Cheese
Ravioli/Beefaroni 
Tuna (Completely out!)
Chili
Soup
Cereal Bars
Individual boxes of cereal




For Spring Break April 6-9:

7 regular size boxes of cereal
4 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
Packets of Mac and Cheese


Please have items for March 30 at Crystal City Elementary by Thursday morning, March 29.  If you can't make it to the school during normal school hours, donations are accepted at Varese Nail and Spa in Festus and Grace Presbyterian Church in Crystal City!  


Thank you and have a wonderful week!

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!