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Red Bag for Schools

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Corky Arthur's Dream and Legacy

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In 1993 Corky Arthur, a beloved servant of Christ and dedicated member of TUMC, saw a need to provide food for people who were desperately in need of help. He started, with his family, to prepare food and go to various places he had discovered that the homeless gathered. Corky discovered quickly that he would need financial assistance to continue his ministry. He formed Tuskawilla Shepherds, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and started seeking partnerships in the community, including businesses, civic clubs, and private individuals, to join this incredible mission and ministry.

When Corky passed away, his family took over and kept this vital service and ministry going. His son, Harry Arthur, is President of Tuskawilla Shepherds, Inc. and all the children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and sons and daughters in law are actively involved in this ministry.

Tuskawilla Shepherds, Inc. in partnership with Tuskawilla United Methodist Church has served over 1 million meals (and counting!) to persons experiencing homelessness and food insecurities, including chronically hungry children in many of our area Seminole County Schools.

 

Red Bag Program
“Fill A Bag—Feed A Child.
Stop Childhood Hunger”

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Did you know that there are approximately 1800 homeless students attending schools in Seminole County? It is not advertised nearly enough, but it is a fact. These students live in motels, shared housing, some in shelters and some anywhere they can find shelter. Over half of them are in elementary school.

The Red Bag Program is designed to help feed these children on weekends, when some of them do not have or receive very much to eat. The schools provide breakfast and lunch when they are at school, but times are tough for some, especially during the weekends and holidays. It is not unusual for a child to come to school on Monday and say they have not had food since lunch the previous Friday.

Each school in Seminole County has a food pantry so children can take a backpack home with them with non-perishable foods to eat over the weekend.

The family of faith at Tuskawilla UMC is pleased to join our friends at Tuskawilla Shepherds, Inc. in providing food through the Red Bag Program to support the schools' food pantries. We strongly believe that no child should suffer from hunger and are thankful for the opportunity to provide food for hungry children, to whom, Jesus says, the Kingdom belongs.

Donations for the Red Bag Program may be brought to the red bins in the Tuskawilla UMC Family Room throughout the month. The suggested list below provides a guideline for requested items. We encourage supporters to purchase 16oz. cans or less due to the weight for small children to carry. Please no glass containers and no perishable items.

 

TOP FIVE REQUESTED ITEMS
Canned ravioli or spaghetti
Single-serve microwavable macaroni and cheese
Ramen noodles
Single-serve sliced fruit in fruit juice or light syrup
Vienna sausages

ADDITIONAL FOOD ITEM REQUESTS
Canned soup
Breakfast items (cereal bars, cereal, oatmeal)
Protein item (beans, canned meat)
Canned vegetables
Packaged pasta
Canned spaghetti sauce
Snack item (like a small container of peanut butter)
Non-fat dry milk
Canned stew
Rice
Peanut butter and jelly

PERSONAL ITEM REQUESTS
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Shampoo and Conditioner
Toilet Paper and Paper Towels
Laundry Soap

 

To learn more about Tuskawilla Shepherds, Inc., please click here.

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