Fifth- and sixth-grade students at Brookland Christian Academy recently spent a morning at Christian Service Mission (CSM) to help organize and sort supplies and donations.
A new school in its first year that includes 4K through sixth grade, Brookland’s vision is to empower God’s children by providing a quality education in a life-giving and nurturing environment. As part of the kids’ service component, Brookland parent Keely Wright took on the role of outreach director. Because the students do not attend school on Fridays, Keely plans once-a-month projects by grade level for students to serve the community and learn the importance of giving back and tangibly loving others.
“At Brookland, we are teaching the children to be more like Jesus,” says Keely. “He came to serve, not to be served, and these kids serving shows Jesus’s love for those in need.” The school’s outreach projects also give families and kids a chance to connect and build relationships outside of school, which contributes to the close, family-like atmosphere at Brookland.
Recently, Brookland’s fifth- and sixth-grade students—as well as younger siblings—met at CSM to spend a few hours learning about the organization’s work in the community and helping in its warehouse.
Christian Service Mission exists to connect resources with needs through relational partnerships to help communities thrive. As noted on their website, CSM “believes communities can thrive through relationships, resource-sharing, healthy food access, safe homes, and spiritual guidance. This is done in partnership with churches, as well as through the creation of intentional mentoring opportunities in a variety of disciplines. Through these avenues, we desire to see growth in personal success, increased learning opportunities, safe homes in a vibrant community, and to reach all people through the telling of the Gospel and by living out Christ’s commands.”
The kids spent time organizing donated clothing that will be distributed to local churches, who will then pass them along to people in need. They also sorted food that will be distributed as part of CSM’s annual Thankserving Day, one of the largest outreaches the organization facilitates. Thanksgiving food boxes and turkeys will be given to CSM partners to share with the community.