NEWS & UPDATES

NEWS & UPDATES

Packing Hope: Briarwood Middle Schoolers Partner with Hope Impacts

Middle schoolers and adults stand in front of a packed car trunk with food packs.

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, Briarwood Middle School students partnered with Hope Impacts, a nonprofit that supports individuals experiencing homelessness. Led by the eighth grade student council officers and Mrs. Traynor, Director of Middle School, students organized a division-wide initiative to collect and assemble food packs containing essentials including water, canned protein, fruit cups, granola bars, and chips.

The original goal was ambitious: 150 food packs. But the students’ determination and teamwork helped them surpass expectations, creating 262 food packs for Hope Impacts. Reflecting on the project, one student shared, “It’s important to always help other people, especially your community.” Advisory classes competed for service awards, free-dress days, and pizza parties. Ms. Louviere’s advisory took home the top honors for contributing the most food packs.

On January 17, Hope Impacts founder and executive director Tina Hatcher visited Briarwood to collect the food packs and share how they would impact the community. “At Hope Impacts, we connect those experiencing homelessness with organizations that provide safe housing, showers, meals, food pantries, medical services, dental services, and more. By providing a safe environment, intentional community partnerships, a vast referral and resource system, meeting basic essential needs, and providing connection and ongoing relationship-building opportunities to walk the journey of life together, we have been honored and privileged to help over 250 people go from unhoused to housed in the Katy Community since 2016 when Hope Impacts began operating full time.” Hatcher highlighted in her talk with Middle School that everyone is one unforeseen event away from homelessness; the only difference between the homed and homeless is where they lay their head at night.  She talked a lot about and gave examples of the ‘unexpected’ people who become homeless rather than the stigma.

This service project allowed Briarwood Middle School students to live out their core value of community through connections, channeling their efforts into a cause that directly supports people in need. Advisory lessons leading up to and after revolved around Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of a beloved community.

For more information on how you can help Hope Impacts, visit hopeimpacts.org/contact-us.