Florida Children Receive
15,000 Backpacks Filled With Love
This summer
the Tampa Bay community rallied beside Operation Blessing’s outreach
center and partner Somebody Cares Tampa Bay. During four large Back-To-School
(BTS) 2003 events an amazing 15,000 school-age boys and girls living in
low-income families received backpacks filled with school supplies! Numerous
churches, organizations and businesses including The Church of Tampa Bay
and Office Depot made sure the area’s children were prepared for school.
Sun Coast Ford, the Jerome Brown Center, and two baseball fields, which
serve as the spring training facilities of the New York Yankees in Tampa
and Toronto Blue Jays, graciously allowed the BTS events to be hosted on
their properties. Here is what a few of the grateful parents had to say…
New To The Area
Mike, Beth and their two boys Marcus and Tony recently moved to Tampa Bay.
Still financially insecure with moving costs and beginning a job, the family
needed help getting ready for school. They also hadn’t plugged into
a church yet. “What you guys are doing here is awesome,” commented
Mike. “We went and had some of the free hot dogs and drinks. The gentleman
at the hot dog stand began to tell us about his church and how much he enjoys
it. We came to get backpacks and got a lot more. Thanks Somebody Cares Tampa
Bay.”
A Happy Mother
"This blessing financially saved over $l00 for my family,” commented
a mother of four. “I heard about the event at the last minute and
came right over. I'm really impressed with how many supplies were in the
backpack. I knew if it was a church giving the backpacks, it would be quality,
but I didn't expect so much."
Reaching Three Generations
Mary brought her two grandchildren Stewart and Stacy to one of the BTS
events. Her daughter is a single working mom struggling to pay the bills.
“You have no idea what a blessing what you are doing here today
is,” she expressed. “While the kids stood in line for their
backpacks I went over to the prayer tent and they prayed for my daughter
and our family. This is really great; seeing these churches working together
for our community does my heart good. Will you be doing this next year?”
The answer to Mary’s sincere question is, “Yes, we will be
back next year!” But we continue to need the support of our faithful
partners and new people like you. So far tens of thousands of children
living in poverty around the world have benefited the year already. But
BTS events are continuing in other cities around the country. It’s
not too late to give towards BTS 2003. There are still many children needing
your help to go back to school prepared. Your gift of $25 or more can
prepare one child for school and their future!
|
]