Dear First Priority Partner,

I am writing to you today as a follow-up to a previous email I sent you before Christmas. You may remember that I shared with you that we have noticed how much more prevalent suicide has become recently right here in our area. After I wrote you, I came upon an alarming statistic. Today, most young people have an increased level of connectivity but less connection than ever before. Research by Springtide earlier this year, just before COVID-19 quarantine, told us that one-fourth of 13 to 17-year-olds said they sometimes or always feel “completely alone.” Can you imagine what that number is now?

I am asking you to help us help these students. Your gift between now and December 31st will be DOUBLED and help First Priority work with local churches and schools to address this issue of loneliness. A couple of weeks ago, a local student told his First Priority campus coach, “Last week you reminded me that I’m not alone and I needed to hear that.” You see, as First Priority clubs are able to continue starting back up and meeting on school campuses and online, kids and teens have a place to connect and belong. First Priority becomes a place that students know they can find friends and hope. We know that the ultimate solution to loneliness is Jesus!

Our vision is to establish an organized Christian presence on Every Last One of the 272 campuses in Greater Birmingham. When we do this, we can have the opportunity to meet the needs of Every Last One of the over 150,000 students in these schools. These are our kids and grandkids. They need our support now more than ever!