I am writing this letter to send a thousand thanks to all those who contributed to my backpack drive for Mendenhall, Mississippi.

The drive and the trip were a bigger success than I had ever imagined - and the gratitude I feel for our community is greater than words!

I will admit at the beginning of the drive I was a little worried that we would not reach our goal of collecting 100 backpacks - but thanks to some amazing, gracious people, we far surpassed our goal, collecting 160 backpacks!

This was enough to give one to every kid at Genesis One Christian School, and also to many families in the town who are also unable to afford the small treasures we so often take for granted.

It was an amazing feeling to watch the kids grab a backpack with bewilderment in their eyes. It was as if they had received a treasure chest, and the smiles on their faces grew larger and larger as they discovered all that was inside. And when they asked who their backpack was from, I got to tell them about all their new friends in Minnesota. The gratitude expressed to my family from everyone in the community was amazing.
But we know that gratitude needs to be forwarded to all those who helped us reach our goal.

You are the ones who changed the lives of some very special students.
So I thank all those who bought a backpack or school supplies. I wish you could have seen the look on the faces of the children as they received their backpacks, because you did not just give them the gift of school supplies, you showed them love which expected nothing in return. And that is something some of them rarely experience.

What an amazing gift to give a child. Another special thanks must go out to those who made donations which will go to great use in buying new textbooks (over $1,500 was donated) so every kid can have their own. They will now have the tools they need to give the children the education they deserve.

And of course to those who kept us in their prayers - our journey was a blessed one, everything fell into place, and we know that wasnít just luck.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Post Review, without your help our goal would have been unreachable.

Like I said, there are no words - so all I can leave you with is a simple thanks.
Thanks for making a difference not only in the lives of the children, but in my life as well. I feel so lucky and proud to have been a part of this amazing experience, and I hope you all can feel the same. I know to the children who pack up their new backpack every morning you are all heroes, and I strongly agree.

Becki Olseen
Harris

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