Brentwood Park’s eMseni Methodist Church members have been producing “little bags of hope” for learners; a simple pencil bag that is becoming a little package of hope for children in the community.

Pastor Jonathon Coates explained members of the congregation donate the stationery and their Creative Hearts group members make the pencil bags, fill them and distribute these to children who may otherwise not have what they need for the new school year.

Recently, 150 pencil bags were handed out to Grade R learners and their siblings at the Urban Ruins NPO, in Boksburg.

“Each bag was filled with stationery and given with the hope that it would make starting the new school year just a little easier and a little more exciting,” said Coates, adding that when 150 little bags of hope are placed into the hands of excited children, it becomes a powerful reminder that hope can be shared one child at a time.

“It really has been a wonderful congregational effort, with different people playing a part to make it happen. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed.

“We have already distributed 130 bags, and we are now looking to put together another 150 bags so that we can reach even more children in our community.”

ALSO READ: Church spoils Deneys Conradie seniors

Senior pastor Reverend Ralph Alberson, of the church, described the project as “passing on little bags of hope.”

“For the children, it may simply be a pencil bag filled with pencils, crayons and other stationery but for those who made and packed them, it represents something much bigger – an opportunity to remind children that they are cared for, valued and supported by their community.

“Sometimes something as simple as having the stationery you need can make a big difference to a child.”

Get involved

The church is continuing to collect stationery and supplies so that more pencil bags can be made and distributed to children in need.

For more information about the project or how you can get involved, contact Pastor Jonathan Coates at eMseni Methodist Church at jonathan@emsenichurch.co.za

ALSO READ: IN PICTURES: Benoni Baptist Church Voting Station