La Tasha’s Big Family Sticks Together

La Tasha and her four siblings shared a 3-bedroom house with her Aunt Gwen and two cousins in Birmingham, Alabama. The fifteen-year-old knew her loving aunt couldn’t afford to buy everything the seven teens needed for the approaching school year. There wasn’t much money left over after the rent, utility and food bills were paid.

When Gwen’s sister died six years ago, she opened her home up to five nieces and nephews with the intent of legally adopting them as her own. However, the mother of two was concerned about how she would provide for the extended family. The father of her children was in prison, and with no family to help, it was up to her.

Thankfully, Gwen eventually found out about our outreach center at Set Free Urban Ministry Center in Alabama. Pastor Warren saw the family’s needs and signed them up to participate in Operation Blessing’s Back to School 2003 and Holiday of Hope 2003. Since meeting Gwen’s family, he has observed La Tasha grow and take on the role of teen worship leader in his church. Pastor Warren commented, “She is remarkably stable, doing well in school, has taken a vow of abstinence from premarital sex, and is destined to become a leader in our Teen Church.”

“I thank Set Free and Operation Blessing for helping my big family,” shared La Tasha. “The book bags were a tremendous help. The presents you gave us [last Christmas] were not just presents, they were gifts from God and were greatly appreciated and a special blessing to us.”

We assist Set Free Urban Ministry Center in helping 150 inner-city kids every week! Not one of their participants lives with their father. Many of us can’t imagine the tremendous pressures these boys and girls face at home due to poverty, lack of parental direction, violence and abuse.

Set Free also coordinates an annual Back to School party every summer. Last year, 142 needy children including La Tasha received book bags full of school supplies and ate plenty of pizza! La Tasha, her siblings and cousins went to the first day of school with confidence, knowing they wouldn’t be made fun of for not being prepared.

Don’t Leave Them Behind!
Your gift of $25 can send a promising boy or girl back to school with the right supplies and/or a new school clothes! A commitment of $75 can help a poor family get their three children excited about the first day of school. How about helping an entire summer school class of ten children from the inner city? Your generous donation of $250 can help them be ready!