"I knew I was gonna win!"

“...I just KNEW it!” It sounded like Justin won the lottery!

With the help of some of our partners at Grand Ave Pharmacy, we were able to deliver several family Thanksgiving meals to kids we serve. I wish YOU could have been there.

We rolled into the parking lot and unloaded our boxes and ice chests of turkey, stuffing, veggies, fruit, bread and desserts, and entered the school office. Some of our admin friends called the student to the office… he had NO idea what was going on. When we told him he’d won Thanksgiving dinner for his family, he jumped up and down, pumping his fists in the air like he’d won the lottery!

“I knew it! I knew it!”, he kept shouting. We all cheered and clapped and high-fived our way around the office. He was ecstatic.

Then things got quiet.

As he opened the boxes of food, one of the counselors leaned in to him and said, “You did it. You provided this for your family… that’s awesome!”

He looked up at her and replied, “They’re gonna be so happy…” His voice trailed off. Tears began to swell in his fourth grade eyes, and he quickly darted out through the nurse’s office.

As I’m writing this, I can’t tell you the weight of that room. To imagine yourself as a fourth grader and feel the responsibility of providing food for your family, To imagine the pride and joy he felt. To see the excitement, to see the smile of that little boy, not over a new video game or a new bicycle or even a new pair of shoes …

But over... groceries. Over something that many of us take for granted this time of year.

One of the joys of Backpack Friends is being able to see the tangible difference YOU are making in the lives of kids. Even though we don’t always get to see the end result of our work, I can tell you this one thing: this year, I’m beyond grateful to be partnering with you in changing the lives of these kids.

Together, we’re creating the world we all want to live in. Together, we’re creating a future where every at-risk kid has an equal chance at a beautiful future. Together, we’re showing the world that everyone matters. Because of YOU, the kids we serve are on the road to a better tomorrow.

It actually does feel like they won the lottery.