Calling all Trucks!

We are looking for volunteers to transport and store back packs..
We need people that are wiling to store 150-200 stored back packs. We would need them to be picked up from our house and stored until August 8th.

The event is August 9th so we will need the back packs delivered to West Ridge on Friday night, August 8th. If this looks like something you can do, please let me know.
Thank you,
Waverly

West Ridge Church

Pastor Paul at West Ridge Church introduced A Fresh Hope and the Back to School Drive to West Ridge this morning during the church services. The support I received from the people at West Ridge was amazing, in fact, it was unbelievable. I was nervous about going on stage in front of 2000 people but Pastor Paul was by my side. I could also feel God's presence in the church.

My grandparents went to church today to see my interview. West Ridge had video taped an interview of me talking about A Fresh Hope. I was a little nervous about seeing myself on the big screens and it felt a little weird.

Thank you Ms. Gretchen, Mr. Chip, Ms. Cyndi and Haley for helping me at the tables.

After church, my friend Olivia came over and we stuffed over 20 back packs. Olivia also came to my church today to see my interview. Thank you Olivia!

It was a great day!
God bless you,
Waverly

School Supplies list for back packs

There are 2 different groups of school supplies for the back packs, High School/Middle School and Elementary School.

High School/Middle School:
3 two pocket folders
1 3 ring binder
2 spiral notebooks
12 #2 pencils
12 blue pens
12 black pens
2 Sharpies
2 packages of notebook paper
1 package of reinforcement labels
1 package of markers
1 package of colored pencils
1 package of 3x5 index cards
2 highlighters




Elementary:
1 Supply Box
2 spiral notebooks (wide rule)
2 packages of notebook paper (wide rule)
12 #2 pencils
1 package markers
1 package of 16 or 24 crayons
2 erasers
2 glue sticks
scissors
2 two pocket folders

We will also collect miscellaneous items not listed above to provide directly to local schools.

Thanks Friends...

On 6-24-08, several of my great friends came over and helped stuffed back packs. (Chelsea, Megan, McKenna, and Sarah). Guess what.. Mrs. Kennedy, a friend and former teacher, also helped. We got a lot done that day. Thank you!
Waverly

Bargain Station-- Thank you!

Mr. Tytus McBride is a wonderful man that has made it possible for the back pack drive to work out. He owns a store called Bargain Station. He has sold us back packs and schools supplies at an incredible price. Not only that.. he is also spreading the word and collecting donations. Mr. McBride delivered 400 back packs and supplies on Friday. You should see our basement.

Mr. McBride is also an AUBURN TIGER- War Eagle Tytus.

Awesome Friends!

Jr. League of Cobb County

The Jr. League of Cobb- Marietta has awarded A Fresh Hope a monetary grant of $1000 for the 2008-2009 League year. A Fresh Hope is the inaugural recipient of the Janet J. Street Scholarship. The Janet J. Street Scholarship is an award to recognize and reward one young woman in the Cobb Marietta community for her exceptional service to the community in making a difference in the lives of others. Waverly met with Ms. Tracy Rathbone for breakfast and then at the dinner. Ms. Rathbone was such a blessing as she had a wealth of experience in this type of organization and validated Waverly's dream.

Waverly attended the Jr. League Cobb-Marietta annual meeting and met Ms. Janet J. Street. Ms. Street is the founder of Girls, Inc. among many many other wonderful charities. She is an awe-inspiring woman and it was a pleasure to meet her.



Thank you Jr. League of Cobb-Marietta!

Jumpits!! Leap for Joy...

Jumpits has donated a huge box of coupons for each bag passed out at the Back to School Event. They are also sponsoring back packs. HOORAY!
http://www.jumpits.com/MainPages/HomePage.asp

Calling all friends...

Stuffing party.......

We have 400 back packs and supplies coming next week. I am inviting any and all friends that want to help stuff to come over and let's stuff. My mom will order pizza for lunch. The stuffing party will be from 9:30 - 2:30 on Tuesday June 24th. Please feel free to come for a little while or the whole time.
Please let me know if you can attend so we know how many to plan for.
Thank you!!!
Waverly

Goodies....

We are busy packing...
Friends came over Friday night to help sort back packs. We almost finished stuffing 115 back packs. The next shipment of 400 comes in next week. We will provide the opportunity to sponsor a back pack for $25.00 at SURGE Family night on 6-27-08 and then again at church on 6-29-08.

God is putting this all together~

Wow... Things are coming together...

We met with the folks from West Ridge Church yesterday. The Back to School event is going to be great. We want to reach 1000 kids with new back packs and school supplies. I want this to be fun for the kids. I want them to know they are special.

Things have started to come together so unexpectedly.
For instance:
We need a lot of back packs. I mean a lot! I was worried on how we would afford the back packs. A friend from church, Ms. Gretchen Haight, called out of the blue on Friday. Her friend, Tytus McBride sold us 115 back packs for $2.50 each. These are nice backpacks.

Mr. McBride has worked out a great deal for this event. We will be able to purchase a new back pack and all the new school supplies for the back pack. We also hope to include new socks and undies. This cost is $25.00. You can sponsor a back pack by sending $25.00 to A Fresh Hope, 1597 Grandwood Trail, Acworth, GA 30101. You are welcome to write a note of encouragement that will be placed in the back pack you sponsor. You can also pay via Paypal at jeffrey.gilcrease@paypal.com.


I have set up an office in the basement and started filling back packs. I went shopping a couple of times this week. I have an inventory of incoming and outgoing started.

Back to School Drive

A Fresh Hope is now working on collecting 1000 backpacks loaded with school supplies ,new underwear and socks. We will be distributing them to children (grades Kindergarten through 12th grade) at a Back to schoo drive on August 9 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will be held in conjunction with West Ridge Church at the church. This is a very aggressive project but is needed in the Cobb and Paulding communities.

***** We still need a lot of school supplies, back packs, new packages of underwear, new packages of socks, and money. *****

BUSINESS PEOPLE: We would to put together a bag of goodies including coupons to local areas. If your organization is interested in supplying these coupons, please e-mail me. The more the better...

Thank you,
Waverly

ABOUT ME

About Me…..
My name is Waverly Gilcrease. I am 10 years old and live in Georgia. It bothers me that kids are homeless, or without clothes or food, that we seem to forget about these kids. My dream is that I want to change the world. I want to make the world a better place for someone. I realized that kids can make a difference by starting small and then growing into something really big. It is my dream to help someone in a way that could change his/her life forever. I want to give someone HOPE.

You could help kids by just donating a little to someone who could use it. It may seem hard to make a change in people's lives but really it's a breeze if you focus on what really counts. A lot of people giving a little equals something so much more.

A Fresh Hope was started to give kids hope, a little at a time. We will provide back packs, school supplies, clothes, and toiletries to children.

God's Grace Gives….