Veda Monday teaches a freshman class on Scholarships and Service at Van Horn High School in Independence, Mo. Mrs. Monday challenged her class to come up with a local service project. Together, the class had already sponsored a year’s education for a child in Uganda.

Students quickly began thinking of what they could do in the way of service.  They told her that they would rake leaves, serve a meal, or do some type of cleaning as their service project.  However, Mrs. Monday told them that was not what she had in mind when she talked about service. 

“Yes, those are worthy service projects,” she told the class, “but do they really speak to serving those who are on the front lines?” 

Mrs. Monday asked the class to pick an organization that provides a service to others, so the class suggested City Union Mission.  Mrs. Monday explained that many people want to give gifts to the poor and homeless and that this was a good thing  She challenged the class to think about creating a gift for the people who assist those who are poor and homeless, as the helpers are in need of love and encouragement but are not often thought about as being the recipients of gifts.

The class agreed and decided to make Valentine’s Day gifts for each staff person in the CUM Administrative Office and the female staff persons in the Men’s Center.  The gifts were individually wrapped with all types of beautiful animals  and candy in coffee mugs, cups and small pails. 

Mrs. Monday was right: when she delivered the gifts to our office on February 14, staff members were amazed that the class thought to encourage them.  The smiles on staff members’ faces were priceless and the commotion over who received which animal was hilarious – they were like children in a free candy store. There aren’t enough words to give Mrs. Monday and her freshman class the thanks they deserve for bringing smiles to the faces of the Administrative and Men’s Center staff on Valentine’s Day.

If you would to find out more about City Union Mission, please click here.  And if you or your group has been inspired by this story, and would like to partner with us, please click here to find out how.