Community groups join together to help

Students from Troup High School participate in sorting food for Troup Cares.

Whitehouse and Troup have been at the task of taking care of their own. During the month of December schools, churches, civic groups and other volunteers came together to extend the hand of friendship and caring to their neighbors.

This is the time of year for sharing the blessings of food and gifts through Project Joy and Troup Cares. Again this year, Troup and Whitehouse community members and businesses have generously opened their hearts and their pocketbooks.

Troup’s donations will help out approximately 40 families this year. Food, toys and other gifts came in from the schools, Brookshire’s and many other generous groups and individuals.

According to Project Joy coordinator Ray Baldwin, Whitehouse contributors helped out 161 families this season. Baldwin said there were many individuals, churches, schools and other groups to thank for their participation and hard work.

Through the efforts of the students, faculty and staff of

Whitehouse ISD, toys and bikes for all the families as well as thousands of food items will be under the Christmas tree this year. Higgins Intermediate alone donated over 6800 food items. See story, page 1B.

Chick-fil-A donated 10 bikes and fed all the volunteers. Brookshire’s donated boxes and roasting hens for every family. Even more food came in through the Spirit of Christmas food drive.

The students at Whitehouse High School and Whitehouse Jr. High raised money for the toys and bikes and did their shopping at Fred’s. Baldwin sends his thanks to Fred’s for opening their doors and lowering their prices even more to help make the special deals go a little further.

The Philadelphia Blessing also shared their blessings with Project Joy through the purchase of cereal for all the families. An anonymous donation came in to provide that gift.

And finally an enormous thanks to all the volunteers who put everything together and to the churches of the Whitehouse Ministerial Alliance for their offerings that provided the perishable goods for each family.

“Project Joy makes Whitehouse a stronger community,” said Baldwin.

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“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.” Matthew 25:35

They are not strangers, they are our neighbors. We are them and they are us.

Thank you Troup and Whitehouse for being such generous neighbors.