Starting a Tough Day with a Smile

So far this school year, Zone 45 children (in Grades 4 & 5) have packed and donated 600 breakfast bags for Ronald McDonald House. These bags contained a total of 3,000 food items (cereal, juice pouch, granola bar, fruit cup, and a beef stick).

The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable, even frightening, to be with a family member who is sick or in the hospital. Families staying at the RMH there can grab a breakfast bag on their way to the hospital or clinic in the morning. Getting through a tough day can be a little easier with a good breakfast!

Each year, RMH serves more than 4,000 families – some from across the region and others from across the globe – at three Twin Cities’ locations. Families are never asked to pay for services at RMH– which include lodging, meals, schooling, and activities – so they rely on the compassion of community efforts like Zone 45’s breakfast bag project.

The Apple Valley McDonald’s provided us with Happy Meal bags, napkins, and spoons for the Breakfast Bags. The rest of the breakfast items came from Zone 45 families! Thank you to all the children and parents for their energy and generosity during this project. Special thanks to the Bachman family for helping deliver the bags last month (Pictured are Lindsay and Brian Bachman).

Serving Opportunities this Month

• There will be one more packing event for 200 additional bags on Wednesday, April 1 during Zone 45 sessions. This week, crew leaders passed out the final Breakfast Bags card. We will need to have all food items at SOTV by Wednesday, March 25.
  
• Zone 45 will also have a Feed My Starving Children service event on Friday, March 6 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Meet at the Eagan FMSC location. Please register online.
  
• Children of all ages can help their families “Pack the Pews” all throughout March for Our Daily Bread food shelf right here at SOTV. Fill a grocery bag with non-perishable food items and bring it to church anytime in March. Or bring a bag every week! See our most needed items this week.
  
• Families and individuals of all ages are invited to our next  ServeTogether on Saturday, March 7 beginning at 9:30 am. We will make 800 sandwiches; assemble Hug Bags and make cards; and do (cold) meal prep for several local charities.

Looking for more? Check out this week's News for the Flock.

Jenni Berg, Zone 45 Coordinator poses with the bags being dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House.