By David Westman
You can feel it in the air. The breeze is a little cooler. You can see a few leaves changing on the trees. Up ahead you hear the squeak of the brakes and see the familiar yellow color of the school bus with lights flashing. Summer is over and kids are back in school.
But not all children going to school will be able to be the best they can be. One in six children in America do not get enough food to eat. Studies have shown that children who have adequate nutrition are far more likely to succeed in school than those who don’t.
Thankfully for those children in need of food in our community, there is Generous Hands, a Vicksburg-based nonprofit organization with a mission “to benefit hungry children by addressing their physical, emotional, nutritional and educational well-being.”
At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, it is supporting more than 230 students weekly. The Friday Food Pack program provides students with a weekly pack of food so they are not hungry on the weekends.
To help support the mission of Generous Hands, the Annual Fall Extravaganza is the primary fund-raising activity. This year’s fund-raiser will be held November 4, at Indian Run Golf Course. Ticket prices are $25 per person, which includes dinner, speakers, a silent auction and appetizers. A cash bar will be available as well. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the formal program beginning at 6 p.m.
In addition to the silent auction, Generous Hands is holding a raffle for an Exmark zero-turn 48” riding lawnmower valued at nearly $5,000. Raffle tickets are $10. Contact Generous Hands at (269) 370-7965 or at generoushands.org for raffle and dinner tickets or if you are interested in making an auction donation.
According to Sheri Louis, executive director of Generous Hands, “The village of Vicksburg is comprised of caring and generous people who look after each other to ensure the success of the community. Generous Hands tries to help those who may need a little extra help in achieving that success.”