Jason Allin
Jason Allin
“We are the hands and feet of Jesus,” Michelle Nudd told her young Adventurer class. “You are called to use the skills and talents you have to help someone else.”
She then explained to the children how the church helps people in different ways and on various levels — like the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) gives food to the hungry, emergency shelters to those in trouble, and medical assistance to the sick.
The children immediately began making a list of things they could do. One played the violin, and another loved to help her mother in the kitchen. Others liked to sing, paint, and draw — but how could any of these things help someone? Unless … unless the children combined their talents and organized a meal and silent auction to raise money!
Lauren Lee, director of the Collegedale Community Church (CCC) Adventurers Club, wanted to involve the children on how the proceeds were used. “I was looking for a way to involve the kids in something they would have no personal gain from and be able to help others,” said Lee. “I wanted an organization with a gift catalog from which the children could choose gifts.” Nudd, who serves ADRA as a financial remote worker, told Lee that ADRA has gift catalogs made especially for children to help other children.
As Lee looked through ADRA’s gift catalog, she discovered that children could choose practical gifts like chickens, goats, and bees to enable a family to operate a sustainable business and provide food for their family. They could also make life easier and more healthful for a family by giving them access to clean water, latrines, school meals, and food packages. Orphanages’ gardening starter kits, and medical vans were also gifts listed in the catalog, among many other options.
ADRA’s gift catalog provided the perfect opportunity for the Adventurers Club.
“Our families like creating service projects for the kids where they can be involved, develop a love for service, and deepen their understanding and connection to our heavenly Father,” said Lee.
The children and parents got to work to organize the meal and entertainment. One mom showed the children how to make flower arrangements, and then let them use their creativity to decorate the tables. Children engaged grandparents, neighbors, and friends to make and donate items for the silent auction table. Most of the food was donated and prepared by the parents, but served by the children — with dads nearby to ensure they didn’t spill anything.
At various times during the evening, the Adventurers sang, played instruments, and entertained the attendees with their talents. ADRA provided several videos with impact stories and information on their projects to show during the event.
“The meaningful and fun part came later when the children were allowed to look through the gift catalogs and choose ways to spend the $2,605 they raised to help other children and their families,” said Lee. “We are grateful for the opportunity to make the world a better place.”
When the Adventurers were asked why they chose to raise money for ADRA, one answered, “It’s a program that helps people to have clean water, a nice place to live, and a roof over their heads.”
Georgia-Cumberland | August 2024
Comments are closed.