Birthday Bags:
This small group of children and teens collected goods and funds from church and community members, shopped/purchased the remaining items needed, assembled, and delivered 19 birthday bags to our local DHS office for children in foster care or in need. The idea was that every child should be celebrated and feel special on their birthday, regardless of their home situation or caretakers' financial status. The bags contained a cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, cake pan, birthday candles, streamers and decorations, balloons, plastic table covers, napkins, and a small stuffed animal or toy. The youth group plans to continue raising funds and collecting items to put together more birthday bags. (pictures attached)

City Connection Meals:
WIth the help of City Connections in Little Rock, Arkansas, church members along with the children and youth group from First United Methodist Church-Prescott gathered and assembled approximately 5,000 meals for our local food bank. Two of our youngest church members, Addison and Grace DeWoody, along with their mother, Ashley DeWoody, and Pastor John Noggle delivered the meals this week. (pictures attached). 

The children and youth leaders of the FUMC-Prescott, Matthew Wade Kimmel, Kandice Kimmel, and Ashley DeWoddy along with Pastor John Noggle have seen community involvement and volunteering dwindle in local areas recently, and think it is absolutely vital to teach our young people service to their community and service to others. Community service will help our youngest church members build empathy, responsibility, confidence, and connect them with their community. Volunteering will also provide our teens/kids with a sense of purpose and a different perspective while teaching compassion.