In 2009, we received a grant to begin a Pack-A-Sack program to initiate a community/church/school connection. Our vision was to feed needy Broward County School children over the weekend when School meals were not available. We committed to do as much as we could for these children, for as long as we could, and for as many as we could in love. The mindset was each bag delivered weekly and box of f
ood delivered for the school breaks would deliver love to the families they touched and offer hope. We approached the task one school at a time, with a focus on loving the families, partnering with the schools, and creating a community element with civic organizations and businesses. Part of our initiative was to serve each school in anyway we could, always say "yes" to a child in need, and our initiative was long term, meaning we would not renew each year but we were committed to the school once we were active in the school. We do not see ourselves as only delivering a bag of food each week, but a relational partner in the community. Over the last 7 years, we have developed partnerships with Miramar-Pines Rotary Club, Hollywood Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. We have also developed relationships with West Pines Community Church, A Place In time Ministries, and Elevating Word Church to support this program and our efforts to love these children and their families as much as we can while supporting the need for food in the households. In addition, we are currently expanding to include developing relationships with Sawgrass Ford, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, Key Club of Flanagan High School, Somerset Academy Charter High School, and others. Today, we are in 9 schools in Southwest Broward county serving over 120 children. We are working with the administrators, guidance, teachers, and social workers to dream and expand our participation in the lives of their children. We have discussions started with 2 of our schools about providing volunteers to mentor and listen to children and help with after school programs. Our vision is to build bridges in the community that connect churches, schools, businesses, and civic organizations to build a community in action supporting our best resource-- our children.
