Local Students Learn Generosity

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Local students at an area high school recently crafted blessing bags for community members that were receiving meals at Christ’s Table. 

Foxfire School Superintendent Todd Whiteman described how the project not only fits the school’s mission but benefits others in need.

“Today’s our 9th annual Blessing Bags drive,” Whiteman said. “It’s all in support of what Keely does here at Christ’s Table. It helps the homeless, helps those who are at risk, helps those that are… who’s struggling. Each blessing bag is composed of hygiene products, food, gift cards. And then each student has crafted a personal, hand-delivered message in each bag. And it just provides some hope for the people who need the hope the most actually.”

Foxfire’s staff and students raised over $6,000-dollars for the blessing bag’s items and distribution. Whiteman added that the gesture teaches important life-lessons such as selflessness and generosity to the students, while providing a message of hope to the recipients.  

“Well the give and receive is really a mantra that we use at Foxfire,” Whiteman said. “It’s called ‘empty the bucket and fill the bucket.’ So each day, each of us wake up with our own bucket filled with gifts from God. At the end of the day it’s our job to empty the bucket that God has given to us, to fill somebody else’s bucket.”

The collaboration between Foxfire and Christ’s Table fosters an awareness of community in the students and shows them how productive citizens can benefit by contributing to others.