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Melanie Handy reviews referrals from social services for her “Pack the Bag Project” to give students a new bookbag and outfit for the first day of school. (Bulletin photo by Eliza Winston) |
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A local high school student is using her summer to ensure that local students have new book bags and back-to-school outfits.
Melanie Handy, a rising senior at Bassett High School, created the “Pack the Bag Project,” which will provide each low-income family referred by Henry-Martinsville Social Services with a new book bag containing an outfit for the student’s first day of school.
Handy is a member of the youth group at Mount Hermon Church of the Brethren in Bassett. Her youth leader, Sherry Flanagan, said Handy approached her about doing a service project in the community. Flanagan is the director of social services in Pittsylvania County.
Flanagan referred Handy to April Evans of the Henry-Martinsville Social Services. Handy worked with Evans to determine what type of program would benefit the community most.
Handy’s original idea was to donate school supplies for children, but she said she learned that service already is being provided. However, there are many families that cannot afford to buy new book bags or outfits for their children to wear on their first day of school.
She contacted local churches to ask if they would sponsor a child. Each sponsored child will receive an outfit and a new book bag.
Local churches agreed to sponsor 30 children, which will more than cover the referrals Handy received from social services.
She picked up the referrals on Thursday. They include the names of the eligible children and their shirt, pants, sock and shoe sizes, Handy said.
Using that information, she will create book-bag shaped cards, similar to Angel Tree cards, which will be distributed to the churches that agreed to sponsor students, she said.
After the churches have purchased clothing and book bags, she will collect the items and give them to social services, Handy said. Employees at social services will distribute the bags to the children after Aug. 9, she said.
Handy said she decided to do a community service project because “the community has so many people in need,” and if she could help one family or child, it would be a good way to give back to the community.
People don’t realize how much a book bag or an outfit “could affect a life, especially for a younger child,” she said.
Handy said she also was inspired to create the program because she “is very blessed and strong in” her faith.
“God has blessed me with so much, and this is the least I can do just to try to give back,” said Handy.
She said she hopes to continue the project next year, and possibly extend the sponsorship opportunity to local businesses and individuals, depending on the need in the community. |
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