Marks, MS COVID-19 Outreach

When quarantine began and the schools closed in Quitman County there was a lot of uncertainty about what was going to happen for our students. The school distributed homework packets every two weeks and passed out food throughout the county. So we decided the best action we could take was delivering Kids Club at Home bags. We wanted to encourage fun learning with an emphasis on the gospel. Our supporters began asking, “What can we do to help?” So we decided to set up an Amazon wish list for people to donate items... and they showed up! 

People from all over Mississippi and in other states sent items, books, and snacks. It was an amazing outpouring of love, and we were overwhelmed with the flood of support that came when we asked for help. With your help we were able to do 6 weeks of bag deliveries to over 55 children that come to our after school program Kids Club and to our young boys mentoring group Gents. We would take two days to deliver the bags to all the homes, and it was a blast even while remaining socially distanced. By delivering the bags, we were able to interact with them from their driveway and hear from their parents.

Each week the bag would contain: fun hands on activities, school supplies (paper, pencils, markers, etc.) to do crafts, bible stories, snacks, and amazing books. All of our kids that participated had fun and even the parents joined in helping them make origami or whatever the craft was that week. We got so many text messages from kids and their parents loving the interactions. When I think back over the last few weeks one family stood out to me in particular because their joy over getting new books was contagious! It is a large family and they all love to read even though they are still learning the alphabet. The two best readers of the family would be reading to all the younger siblings before we could even pull out of the driveway. One of the little girls in this family is the only kid that has called me to ask for more pencils so that she could do more work. I do not know many other kids so eager to work and learn.

These are the amazing types of kids that I have the privilege of working with, and I am so grateful for each one. The support, kindness, and generosity of  many helped to brighten the lives of our children during this challenging time.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18

Love,

Kendall Myrick

Marks Ministry Director