Two Northwest Florida teens, Gracie Coleman and Raegan Jones, both 15, have been making lunches for the homeless with their project, "Pack-a-Sack".
Coleman and Jones met through competitive cheerleading and have been best friends for 8 years now. And with the ongoing quarantine, their classes being set online and their after school activities being canceled, the two have found a good and befitting way to fill in their time.
They thought of a project that will help feed the homeless thus, "Pack-a-Sack" was born to remember the homeless and encouraging simple acts of kindness.
They will prepare and cook lunches then deliver it directly to those people in need. Last Saturday, the girls have given out 50 food sacks to people in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. They also write messages on the paperbags for the people who will receive them.
The idea came from Coleman's dad, Lynn. Coleman said that her dad has always had a heart for helping those individuals who have fallen on hard times and are in disadvantaged situations. With the two teens looking for something to do, Lynn thought that the idea would be perfect, as well as befitting. With this idea, not only will the girls could pass their time during the current pandemic, but they could also use this time to give a helping hand to those who seek it.
With most people at home, fewer drivers on the road, and food banks being overwhelmed, the homeless population was hit especially hard during this pandemic with having little to no food at all while being at risk of the Coronavirus Disease.
Jones also shared that those people are not getting much food even before the pandemic and now they are not getting anything at all.
Coleman added that through their "Pack-a-Sack" project, they get to help and acknowledge the presence of those people that do not get to be seen.
Coleman also said that at present, there are a lot of people without their jobs and people with their jobs on the line that focuses on helping themselves is their utmost priority, thus, they cannot help others.
And those others are the ones that they wanted and needed to help. The girls felt the dire need and sudden urge to support those people even in the simplest way of making them lunches.
For currently over three weeks, the two have been making lunch packs for the homeless.
Coleman expressed how she loves to see each person's expressions every time they give them their food sacks. She added that their project has been life-changing, especially while seeing those grateful faces.
In each of their carefully-packed lunches, the teens would write, "Stay strong," "God loves you, " and "You matter," all in hopes to shed some light and deliver the message that they are not alone in this trying times.
Coleman and Jones also hope to expand and continue their project even when the schools reopen.
To help and to know more about the girls' "Pack-a-Sack" project, details are found on the Facebook page.
