It won’t make front page news, but today some children got a free lunch. Several ladies came together with pots of homemade soup, some PB & J sandwiches, as well as cookies- baked from scratch, to feed children they did not know. They did it just because they wanted to make a difference in someone’s life, to do something nice for a stranger.

Dale Spicer, Director of the HELP Center in Dickson, stated that he is seeing new faces come in to the Help Center seeking assistance. Men and women, who have held regular full-time jobs for years, suddenly find themselves unemployed and in need of help. They NEVER thought it could happen to them; they never dreamed they would be at the local food pantry having to ask for money to keep their lights on or food to feed their children. With the economy as it is, many people are finding themselves in similar circumstances: unable to find a job.

Curious about how joblessness has effected the good people of Dickson County, I have spoken with organizers of local church food pantries as well as people from the Dept of Children’s Services and the School Board and realize that there are, indeed, hungry children in Dickson. They may not be living under a bridge or in a car, but the need is very real just the same. Rachel Carter, director of Dickson Housing Authority’s Community Center, sees children come into the center after school because no one is home and they are hungry. Like many of the local food pantry organizers, Rachel has heard that often children who receive free lunch at school do not have enough to eat on the weekends. Although a Back-Pack program has been started in local schools, whereby students are sent home with some non-perishable food on Friday to get them through the weekend, Rachel has seen generous children sharing their Back-Pack food with friends on Friday afternoons.

It can make a person feel so small while considering how huge the problem is nation wide and so helpless in doing anything about it. One person’s effort can not change the tide for the nation, but can one person help change things in his or her own community? What about several people working together?

Wondering what could be done to help families in troubled times; I decided that I could work within my sphere of influence and revive the spirits and hope of a few families by doing something unexpected and kind. I knew I could not make vats of soup to feed masses of people, but I could make one pot of soup and one plate of sandwiches and feed a few hungry children. I asked a few other women to each make one pot of soup and one plate of sandwiches, and another friend to make cookies, and together we made enough food to feed many children. I wanted this to be a united effort, I wanted to cross denominational lines in the Dickson community, so the womenI invited to join me  are  from different church denominations: Lisa Glaser of Hope Park Church in Nashville, Linda Eppers of Cross Point Church, Dickson , Tawnya Pezzi of Dickson First Assembly and Sandra Chatham of Dickson’s First Baptist Church and I did what we could to reach whom we could. We set up at the DHA Community Center on East Walnut and served what we had to those who showed up to receive it. And it felt GREAT!

I am reminded not to despise small beginnings as we dished out only 25 bowls of soup this time. But with only 4 days notice, I consider that a huge success! Did we change the world? No. Did we stomp out hunger in Dickson? No. We put smiles on faces of children and their parent’s by showing them what the love of a stranger can look like. Just for today. And the leftovers were given to various families with in the community.

Next month, February 20th to be exact, from 11:30 to 12:30 ( or until the soup runs out) we, Soup For the Soul, will be back at the DHA Community Center dishing out more free soup & sandwiches-with a cookie on the side, to any hungry child, in search of more smiles. We will be doing our little bit for the community.

Now, ask yourselves: What can I do to make a difference in my community? Find some friends if you need to and change your corner of the world. Even if only for a day. Do what you can with what you have, nothing more and be satisfied with nothing less.

If you would like more information, you are welcome to e-mail me at soupforthesoul@live.com.

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Operation Christmas Child, under the leadership of Franklin Graham ( Billy Graham’s son) through the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief  Organization ( from the story of the Good Samaritan), asks individuals to fill shoe boxes full of good gifts to send to children affected by poverty, war, and natural disasters. Working for over a decade, they have sent over 68 million shoe boxes to children in 130 countries around the world.

I have been packing Christmas shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child for so long I don’t even remember when I started! I do know that when my children were young, before there could be any “getting” at Christmas, they had to do their GIVING first. Each of my 5 children would pack a shoebox full of toys, pencils, paper, tooth brush and tooth paste, hats, gloves, candy… whatever they could fit in their box…for some child around the world that they would never even meet. But at some point each Christmas, my children would wonder if that little boy or girl was happy with the gifts they had received and could feel good knowing they had made someone’s Christmas special .

Every shoe box counts because it meets the needs of some child who would otherwise get nothing for Christmas. The boxes travel by plane, boat, donkey, scooter, canoe, ox-cart and elephant to reach children in remote villages who are often forgotten. These children are amazed that someone they do not know cared enough to send them a gift.

How can you get involved and change someone’s Christmas? It’s easy…pack a shoe box or plastic box about the same size with non-perishable candy (nothing that can melt), toy cars, stuffed animals, socks, hats, flip-flops, etc ( we find great things at the dollar store) but no liquids, breakables or war toys please. You can find specific instructions for packing a box at www.samaritanspurse.org, as well as the labels you will need to put on your box. If you would like to track your box and receive information about its destination , follow the EZ Give Donations instructions.

You can pack a box alone, as a family, with your church or other organization. The local MOPS group and some individuals are  having a packing parties to fill many boxes at one time.

One of the most important things you can pack in your box is a picture of you and your family or group as well as a note to the child who will receive your gift to make a personal connection. You may include your address in your note so that perhaps you will receive a letter in reply. I know one family who received a note from the recipient of their box, a little boy in India, and they have remained in contact.

The filled shoe boxes can then be dropped off November 16th through the 22nd at the Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 500 Highway 70 E Dickson TN 37055 or call (800) 788-6859  for more information. Chris Holman, the contact person at the church, said that they have been participating in this program for the past 12 years, and shared why they became involved:  “The Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian Church has always been active in the community as well as striving to be a light in the community, we felt that this would be another opportunity for us to help local churches and organizations with a centralized drop off point while at the same time furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” There are other drop off places in Waverly and Clarksville, that information may also be found on the website.

Who knew a shoe box could change heartache into delight as a child discovers the treasures you have packed into it? Why not make packing shoe boxes and changing the lives of children around the world one of your Christmas traditions?

Samaritan’s Pure Mission Statement: “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.”

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