A couple of weeks ago the middle and high school students participated in Dash & Go. This annual event is a favorite of our youth program. The youth have the task of purchasing groceries and delivering them to families in need.
We loaded up several cars and traveled to Publix. As you can see in the picture above, the carts were loaded with food, paper products and a couple of holiday treats. I had fun watching our youth decide which items to buy and which to leave- all while staying in budget!After a very long check-out process, we did our best to fit the groceries into our vehicles. It all fit…barely!
Then we traveled to six different families and delivered the groceries. The name of this event, Dash & Go, implies that the youth should drop off the groceries on the front porch, knock on the door, and then dash back to the cars. The hope is that the families will not know where the food came from; only that they are loved.
It rarely works out this way. Many times the families see us coming and want to talk. These conversations will be ones that I cherish for a long time. I learned that families are deeply grateful for the support of Unity. This time of year comes with more financial pressure. Many families feel a strong desire to spend more on gifts and events in order to create the perfect holiday. The families we spent time with expressed a deep gratitude for the groceries because they will make this time of year a bit easier.
Our youth loved that all of our families were local (within 10 minutes of the church). They found it meaningful to realize how much need there was right in our community and were motivated to continue to serve.
Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, said “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”
Unity’s middle and high schoolers have provided a wonderful example for us to follow. As you reflect on the birth of Jesus, do a little something extra for someone. Could you do something extra today that would make your spouse feel loved? What could you do this week for the cashier at Target or an employee at Birkdale? Who is in need in our community for whom you could do a little extra?
The first Christmas changed the world. Christmas continues to change the world every year when we choose to act on its message of love. Let’s all do a little something extra this week.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
-Isaiah 9:6
See you on Sunday!
-Pastor David
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