Backpacks and Cereal: Texas Children, Youth, Young Single Adults and Others Serve Those in Need

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By Mary Richards, Church News

When representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and JustServe specialists visited the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, they learned about the services Oak Lawn provides to migrants and the homeless population.

The specialists at JustServe — a website and app where organizations can post their volunteer needs and people can find service opportunities around them — wanted to know what were the greatest needs at Oak Lawn UMC and how could Church members and community volunteers help.

The answer from Pastor Isabelle Marquez was backpacks — large, adult-size backpacks in fact. The backpacks would help migrants arriving at the North Texas Migrant Welcome Center to carry essential items with them on their next journey to their sponsor locations.

The welcome center is hosted by Oak Lawn UMC’s outreach program, Dallas Responds, and serves as a vital hub for assisting migrants as they arrive.

Migrant buses arrive at least once a week — up to three times a week — carrying 30 to 100 people, who often arrive with only the clothes on their backs.

Elder Jonathan G. Cannon, an Area Seventy in the North America Southwest Area, was told of this need for backpacks, and he directed the local Church members’ efforts for providing aid. An overall goal was set for gathering 500 backpacks. Elder Cannon encouraged the backpack drive to involve JustServe, stake leaders and community partnerships.

Through these efforts, Church members in Dallas gathered 607 backpacks and provided a substantial food and commodities donation to support the welcome center.

Pastor Marquez expressed her gratitude for the unity displayed by the collaborative effort.

“It’s amazing to be together, having one goal: to serve people in need,” she said. “And I think that’s meaningful. It’s not just Oak Lawn UMC, or one organization or another. It’s all of us together, hand in hand.”

Kerri Zimmerman, Dallas Metro JustServe specialist, emphasized the importance of community partnerships, saying, “It is inspiring to see different faith groups and community organizations come together to help and serve our neighbors. JustServe promotes unity through community service and being able to volunteer and provide backpacks and commodities with Oak Lawn UMC has fostered that sense of unity. We appreciate all the good things they are doing to bless the lives of so many individuals.”

Dallas Texas East Stake President Dane B. Hatch shared his gratitude for the collaboration.

“What a blessing it is to partner with such a remarkable organization as we strive together to share the light of Christ through service to others,” he said. “We hope that our contribution of backpacks, as well as the food and commodity donation, will bless the lives of many. We look forward to our continued association with our friends at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church as we work together to support those in need.”

Collecting Cereal for Those in Need

Another project in the Dallas area involved Primary children, youth groups and young single adults from the Prosper Texas Stake who collected more than 200 boxes of cereal for the Prosper Ladies Association’s Summer Lunch Program.

The school district crosses the boundaries of several towns across North Texas, and the summer lunch program feeds children during the summer break who receive nutritional support during the school year on the free and reduced lunch program.

Members of the Frisco YSA Ward in the Frisco Texas Stake gathered together one evening and labeled 2,400 grocery bags to be used for packing and delivering the food items to the families.

Nikki Holbrook, a young single adult who serves as the Frisco YSA Ward Relief Society president, attended the project to label the bags.

“The experience was truly humbling knowing that our small contribution can make a significant impact in helping those in need. It also fosters gratitude for our own blessings,” she said.

The Prosper 1st Ward young women volunteered on a Saturday morning to help pack the bags with the breakfast and lunch items to be delivered to the children.

Lyla Merrill, 14, took part. “I loved participating in the service project and being able to help students in Prosper Independent School District,” she said. “It was a simple way to show Christlike love for others and it was a great experience. It was amazing to work with others that may not be of our specific faith, but still want to help those in need.”

Primary children like Spencer Owen, 10, of the Prosper 6th Ward, wrote sweet notes of encouragement and attached them to the boxes.

“I loved picking a cereal that was my favorite and knowing it would go to a kid that needed it more than me,” he said. “I know that Heavenly Father would be happy that I was helping others.”

Megan Owen, who is a counselor in the Prosper 6th Ward Primary presidency, helped organize her ward Primary participation.

“Knowing the cereal we were donating was going to families in need in our community made this drive much sweeter. When you add in the sweet spirit of the Primary children and their excitement to donate their favorite cereal, you could feel a great love for those we were serving and those we served with,” she said.

Stephanie Funk with the Prosper Ladies Association said the amount of volunteers and the wide range of ages serving all summer was incredible.

“It was heartwarming to read the sweet letters and cards that were attached to each cereal box. I know when the children were writing the notes, they had prayed the family would see it and make them smile. I bet they didn’t realize that each middle and high school volunteer and their parent that packed the bags later that week would also be touched,” she said.

Funk said running a program that is 100% volunteers can be challenging, but the small town of Prosper truly has a big heart.

“We were blessed each week with just enough volunteers to feed all of the families in need. We are so very thankful for your continued support, prayers and love.”

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