First Priority now has a specific project in which you as a First Priority supporter can touch the lives of local teens impacted by last week’s weather disaster. I hope you will take the time right now to read the details below and deeply consider your involvement. With your support, First Priority will be there now just as it has been for the past 20 years to provide encouragement to every student in every community who needs help. This stands to be an unprecedented opportunity to touch young lives with the love of Jesus Christ and we are determined to see it happen.
Let me give you a little background information about this project and then share with you exactly how you can help.
After the Katrina disaster, First Priority organized Bags of Hope for teens whose families lost everything. The idea was to come in after the immediate physical needs of roof, food, water and clothes had been met and provide for teens’ emotional and spiritual well-being. The bags were purchased by a concerned person who would then fill the bags with items from a suggested list and return them so that they could be distributed by a local First Priority representative into schools and communities. Examples of items in the bag were gift cards (from Walmart/Target and fast food like Chick-fil-A), Christian music, bible, approved books, magazines, DVD’s, small inexpensive necklaces and bracelets, playing cards, socks and a personal note from the one who provided the bag. In just two weeks First Priority Birmingham provided for more than 500 of these students. Thousands were provided from across the nation to our First Priority organization on the Gulf Coast. We believe the same can be done now here in Alabama.
We know that the current need in our area is for basic physical aid. This response has been overwhelming. The next opportunity to meet needs is what we are now looking ahead to. In a similar fashion in the next week or two there will be toy drives in order to provide some sort of normality for a young child. This Bags of Hope emphasis for teenagers will be similar to that, but we will be able to give emotional and spiritual healing in these teens’ lives. We have several books and music that we will be suggesting that deal with suffering from a Christian perspective. Oftentimes, the needs of middle and high schoolers are overlooked. Teens will be looking for answers and we want to ensure they get the right ones! This may be the only opportunity to touch their lives with Christian love.
With these Bags of Hope we will be empowered to help local churches find and minister to displaced teens and help schools find First Priority students at their new school campuses. They will then be able to connect with a Christian peer group and find new friends. This work will involve local church youth ministers in communities all across Alabama.
Here are some ideas and thoughts of how you can participate:
-Bag of Hope Founder -There is an immediate need for major donors to provide funds for laying the foundation for this project. A fully funded Bag of Hope has a value of up to $100. Bag of Hope Founders will give a one-time financial donation to provide at least 10 bags. These major donations of at least $1,000 will provide the funds for First Priority to purchase items in bulk and quickly jumpstart this project. To be a Bag of Hope Founder, click here to make a donation for the bags. In the “Comments” section type, “Bags of Hope.” Or, please call 205.871.8886.
-Bag of Hope Sponsor – Personally purchase one or more bag(s) for $10 each and fill them with the suggested items and return them to a specified distribution point. Or, provide a one-time financial gift of at least $100 to allow First Priority to provide a bag(s). A suggested item list will be attached to the bag. To be a Bag of Hope Sponsor, please send an e-mail to info@gofirstpriority.com or call 205.871.8886.
-Bag of Hope Distributor – Take responsibility for distributing and collecting a number of Bags of Hope from your place or platform of influence; you could be responsible for your people. A Distributor could work from their place of business, church, youth group, First Priority club, Sunday School class or Bible study group. This would entail taking responsibility allowing someone to purchase a bag for $10. Then allow them to bring the bag back full of the suggested items to you. The Distributor would then return the bags and money to First Priority. To be a Bag of Hope Distributor, please send an e-mail to info@gofirstpriority.com or call 205.871.8886.
We are currently determining distribution points for the Bags of Hope. We will have a list by Monday, May 9.
Please help us help students and become personally involved by supporting this unprecedented need in our area. For more up-to-date, specific information and volunteer opportunities, stay connected to First Priority Greater Birmingham on Facebook, follow us on twitter: @firstpriorityal, or visit our blog at blog.gofirstpriority.com.
Keeping Christ the First Priority,
Greg Davis
President
First Priority Greater Birmingham
205.871.8886
Greg@gofirstpriority.com