Paschal Harvest Project Luncheon

We are often confronted with the painful fact there are people who struggle daily to obtain the most basic human necessities of food to eat, clean water to drink, a safe place to rest their heads, and clothes to wear. Usually the images we see of the hungry, poverty stricken, downtrodden come to us from far-flung places like India or Somalia and we feel sorry for them. Sometimes we might even send them some money and we feel good about ourselves because we’ve helped. Mostly we’re just happy we live in such a prosperous country and that sort of thing doesn’t happen here; that kind of suffering and strife is a third-world issue. Unfortunately, that simply isn’t true.

Right here in our own city there are people struggling to meet those basic human needs. This problem isn’t a third-world problem we can keep at arm’s length. It’s real, and it’s in our backyard. Thankfully, there is a wonderful organization working to combat this problem at the neighborhood level.

The Paschal Harvest Project is a community team that includes teachers, counselors, administrators, community organizations, and faith based partners that have come together to teach resilience amidst adversity through intervention and support services.

The Care Closet was built in the summer of 2014. University United Methodist Church, located across the street from Paschal, graciously opened their doors and to house the Care Closet so that students could have easy access to clothing, shoes, and toiletries. That summer families, community members, and partners came together to fill and store the closet with gently used clothing and shoes as well as toiletries. This closet serves not only individual students but also families. It is also a way to identify students at need and provide them with Next Step services if needed.

The Pantry was the beginning of the Care Closet. Completed in the fall of 2013 it is a closet located in Paschal High School. It was created after a realization that many students didn’t have the necessary supplies to be successful in school. Several drives were run by the community and student organizations and to provide pens, pencils, folders, binders, and backpacks for students in need.  Although it started with school supplies, it now includes snacks for students who come to school hungry. Through a partnership with Tarrant Area Food Bank Paschal Harvest Project has created a free snack program for students. The Pantry provides easy access to students needing food, backpacks, and school supplies.

Adopt a Panther was started after a realization that many families needed assistance throughout the holiday season to bring gifts to their families. Many students went home to empty trees. In December of 2013, several community members and staff here at Paschal scrambled to provide Christmas for 6 families. The next year it would not be the same. Starting in November of 2014 Paschal Harvest Project began asking teachers, counselors, and other staff for referrals of students who might need assistance during the holidays. They then began to ask for volunteers who would adopt these families and purchase wish list gifts for children who would otherwise not have anything for the holidays. On December 19th a group of Paschal staff would deliver the gifts to the families. In total Paschal Harvest Project with the help of our community was able to provide Christmas gifts for a total of 36 families; 127 children and teens.

This Wednesday, May 11^th Paschal Harvest Project is hosting their annual luncheon. Please considering gathering a group and attending or purchase individual tickets. You can register for the luncheon here. There are several sponsorship opportunities for this very worthwhile cause. Here is your chance to help people right here in our neighborhoods. This is not a third-world issue. This is not something that is happening half-way around the world. It’s here in Fort Worth and we can help overcome it when we support groups like the Paschal Harvest Project.