Bag Assembly

Today was the day to assemble the bags!  Thank you so much to so many of you that donated to help this cause!  I want you to know that when you did, you did more than just help a homeless person.  This was a great learning experience for ALL of us.

First of all, logistically, a month is not a lot of time to assemble the items we had hoped to receive and given the time frame we had I think we did pretty well.  We were able to assemble 100 bags with a variety of things.  Things that are both useful and a treat. We will definitely be partnering up with the Holland family this next year to get a head start on collecting items!  We are all excited at the prospect of starting in January and featuring an item every month so we are more prepared come December 2013!

Going into this, I was really concerned about the boys losing focus on why they were doing it and getting caught up in a lot of the praise they might receive.  And, of course, so many people have been very encouraging to them, and that's great.  It would be hard for a mature person not to get caught up in the praise.  (And, to be clear, we are very proud of them and have been encouraging them for following through on their idea and helping others). But, in the middle of all of it we had a teaching opportunity with one of the boys to remind him that we aren't doing it so people will recognize us.  We do it because God has burdened our hearts for it.  We do it because people are hurting and the more important thing is spreading some love to them whether we are praised for it or not.  Ultimately I hope the praise and glory will be given to God.  We prayed over those bags as we filled them - for the individual people that would have them in their hands tomorrow.  My prayer tonight is that (if they haven't already) they will find the same hope for this life that we have.  That they will feel the unconditional love, acceptance and grace that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ has changed my life.  It's that simple.  I am so grateful for all He has done for me and I feel so incredibly blessed this Christmas in the ways He has shown Himself to me and the MANY blessings He has showered on me and my family.

So, with that.  Here's some pics from today:

Tomorrow morning a reporter from the Tri-City Herald is coming over to interview the boys.  I have no idea what will come of it, but would love your prayers that it is a positive experience for them and hopefully an opportunity to share what Christmas means to us!   

THANKS FRIENDS!!!

Donations for Homeless People

{Our 2 oldest boys}

******12/19 update - If anyone is interested in helping assemble the bags on the 23rd or distribute them with us on the 24th please let me know!!

Thank you for your continued support and donations!  It's been really fun to be a part of and there are more lessons being learned in this fun adventure than I had anticipated!
Hello friends!  A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to have a date with my son Everett.  On our date we were talking about his future and things he would like to do as an adult.  One of those things was to help homeless people.  Our family has long been passionate about helping those without homes and had ample opportunities to do so in some of the other communities we've lived in.  Since moving to the Tri-cities 2.5 years ago we have had a hard time really finding our groove again.  Recently our pastor's daughter shared her passion for adoption at church (thanks Jenise!!) and my heart was challenged to help my kids live out the burdens God has laid on their hearts.  God has given our kids a burden for those who are hungry and in need of physical help.  I was encouraged to help them fufill this calling on their own hearts!  I'm excited to see how God is going to use them this way - to His glory!  Everett and I sat and he wrote out a plan of action on what he can do now, at 9, to help the homeless people in our community.  His goal was clear - he wanted to give them a Christmas gift.  Something useful but also some things that are fun.  When we got home he shared his idea with his older brother Lincoln (10).  They quickly went to work on creating a flier.  Tonight they will share their vision and burden with the youth group at our church and hopefully other people will answer the call with them! We invite you to answer this call.  Help them see that God can use 9 & 10 year olds to love on His people! 

We will take donations all the way up to December 22nd and assemble the bags on the 23rd.  Our hope is to distribute them on Christmas Eve as a family!

Here is part of what their flier looks like.  I helped a tiny bit - but the rest of it is all theirs!

Our goal is to create 100 bags to hand out to homeless
people on Christmas Eve - We will update as we receive items





62/105 - Standard size gift bags
38/100  received Hats100 Gloves160/200 received Hand warmers120/200 received Foot warmers
20/100 prs. of socks (new)
4/100  received- $5 gift cards to McDonald's or other fast food restaurant0/100 - Coffee cards ($5 quantities)86/100 received  - Toothbrushes72/100 received -  Toothpaste 0/100 - Bus pass (10 ticket pass costs $12) Can be bought at Three Rivers Transit Center7109 W. Okanogan Place Kennewick Hours: M-F 8-572/100 -received - Cookies (pre packaged please)100/100 - Mini Bible or New Testament
100/100 - Gum300/300 hard candy
100/100 - Water bottles (disposable)25/100 - Note pad and 50/100 pen

Share the love of Jesus & make someone smile this Christmas.

Donations can be dropped off at First Baptist Church of Ricland 1107 Wright AVE Richland with Hayden LeRoy (he's the youth pastor)

M-TH 9-5 we will also come pick donations up if you can't get to the church!  Just send us an email or call!

Contact us:
theleroyboys@gmail.com

509.713.6334

509.392.3603