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It was quite the honor to be invited to the Students’ Fund of Hope Recognition Celebration at WILLow LeaVes. It was an emotional and inspiring event. As the president spoke, I thought about having Whitney Kessler Budd in my classroom as a fifth grader as well as Stephanie McKinley Long, each contributing so much to the organization. Then, I looked around the room and saw other former fifth graders who have been very involved. I thought about Whitney being at our Book Study to share about her challenging life as a young person and how she felt driven to assist others with challenges. All present listened with their hears and expressed how they wanted to be a part of such a worthwhile cause. None of us know when our lives might change drastically and need an organization like Students’ Fund of Hope.

You will not find all the kind words Whitney stated about each plaque recipient, some who could not attend and will receive a plaque later, but each recipient there was touched by her words and the eloquent Students’ Fund of Hope plaque with the following words:

“With our deepest appreciation, we hereby honor … with this gift in recognition for your generous contribution and support. We are blessed to have you in our community. We are thankful for all you have done and continue to do for the community. Thank You!”

Most of Whitney’s speech follows:

“If you would’ve told me six years ago what the Students’ Fund of Hope would be today, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Although, I shouldn’t be surprised.

“Hope is a community that has always shown up for others. For the past six years of operating the fund, we have gotten to witness that firsthand. Because of you all, you’ve kept the lights on, the water running; you’ve made sure vehicles are in good working order to get kiddos’ parents back and forth to work; you’ve covered field trips, put shoes on feet, filled backpacks, supplied lunch, breakfast, and snack bags throughout the summer, and lots more. You have provided sensory paths to our school, brand new body safety curriculum, field day activities, and most recently, a gift card for every teacher to purchase necessary supplies for their classrooms.

“So many of you have given without expectation. While that means the world to us and those we help, we all often feel so indebted to your generosity. I lay awake at night wondering if I remembered to send the handwritten thank you card, if I used the right words to express our deepest gratitude. I wonder what else we could do or say to make you all really feel the impact you have made on so many children’s lives.

“I’d like to share a few stories with you that might help understand the impact you’re making:

“Just recently we were contacted by an older man who is raising a fair amount of kiddos. He’s never had to reach out and ask for help before but had found himself in a position that their home was going to be foreclosed on if the payment was not made in two days. It took him a lot of courage and vulnerability to make that call. As I met him that evening, he walked up shaking with tears in his eyes. I could see the bill he was holding in his hand visibly shaking as he said, “I brought this with me because I wanted to show you I wasn’t lying. I just don’t know what else to do.”

“You paid that bill. You let him take a deep breath. You allowed him to keep going without worry.

“A few months ago, a single mom contacted us who was working two jobs. Her oldest daughter stayed home and took care of her younger two children. At that time, we had begun our munch- bag program, and she asked if we could drop food off to her kids at home. Most days after they got comfortable and familiar with us and the volunteers delivering the munch bags, they would wait outside and jump up and down when we would pull in to deliver their food.

“You did that!

“One of our very favorite stories however may be of the single mom who came to our movie night. The outdoor movie night is easily our largest attended event, and we provide the entire evening of dinner, activities, movie, and more for free to those who attend. The basis of these movie nights is to foster good memories for kiddos. We want them to grow up and be able to look back and think of the happy and good memories with their parents. This single mom came and found our board member and treasurer, Christy Greenhut, and handed her a Ziploc bag full of change. Christy began to tell her, “No. No, everything is free!” The woman had started crying and said, “No, just listen. You’ve paid my child’s lunches all year. I know this isn’t much, but it is all I have. I want you to keep it.”

“You did that!

“Without people like you, our donors, and others, there would be no Students’ Fund of Hope. The work we do would not be possible. The need here would be greater, and more kiddos would go without.

“These last six years have been nothing short of witnessing God’s hands and feet move in our little town. We pray that we can continue to meet these needs and listen to His guidance when we come into contact with the families we serve.

“At this time, we want to present you with a plaque hand crafted by Zollman Designs. And while we know oftentimes people receive things like this and think, “Now what am I going to do with this?! Where will I put it?!” We hope you can take this plaque, that if you do choose to display, it becomes a talking piece in your home. We hope you can explain your time and years you gave back to someone else in need, that it becomes a ripple effect to those you speak to about it.

“John & Shirley Robertson, Steve & Lori Robertson, Larry & Shauncee Johnson, Nick Weidersatz, Willow Leaves, Willie Casey, Walter & Aubree Gill of Arrow Container, Justin & Belinda Lucas of Hot Box Pizza, Hope First Baptist Church, Zollman Designs, Burt’s Pest Control, First Wesleyan Church, Joe &Pam Mobley, Hill’s Auto, Hope Moravian Church, Moravian Women, Mason Ramsey, Carie Mires, Ally & Wyatt Shannon, Chad & Nicole Miller, Pat & Brandy Walters, Martin Made, Heather Galloway, Chris Caldwell, Main Street of Hope, Redefined, Duck Creek Gardens, Nathan & Shelia Downey, HUMC Exercise Group, Gearhart Family Dentistry, 450 North Brewing Company, Hawcreek-Flatrock Area Endowment, Bill Lentz, Heritage Fund, Tim Zeller, Taylor Brothers Construction, Peterman Brothers, Wendy Reyes, David & Lisa Webster, Susan Thayer Fye, Jim Stafford, Donju Taylor, Norman Funeral Home.

“Volunteers: It is no secret that we also could not host our events we do or provide the resources we have without the help of some amazing volunteers. And while we have hundreds of people who have volunteered over the years, the ones we would like to recognize now are those who have given so much of their time and energy, hundreds of volunteer hours, and sacrifice.

“Carole Bachmann, Jan Meek, Casey Adams, Nicole Miller, Sam Pittman, Amber Whittington, Deb Smith, Patty Mills, Dakotah Dickey, Heather Galloway, Laura Burnett, Beth Coffman, Becky & Lucas Crowder, Angela Potts.

“And last but certainly not least, our board members. Many of these members have been with me since we started six years ago. They have given so much of their time, knowledge, resources, and more. They are the opposite side of a phone call to make quick decisions; they come up with the best ideas; they help make informed decisions while not extending any judgment to those we assist.

“Tori Bachmann, Christy Greenhut, Dave Miller, Caitlyn Linzy, Bobbie Shake, Travis Pittman, Ellie Trotter, Shelby Fugate, Jennifer Hadley, Ryan Budd. “

At the end, Dave Miller shared a few words: “Whitney is an inspiration to us because she is so strong and determined. She is a fierce champion of what she believes in, and her determination allows her to succeed in anything that she does. But Whitney also has a huge heart and has so much compassion for the community, especially the kids that live here. That combination of traits is special and unique and makes her uniquely gifted to be able to [have] found the Students’ Fund of Hope and uniquely suited to continually be the president.”

It seems appropriate to include part of a poem by Christy Dance Greenhut on behalf of all receiving the plaque which appears in an excellent book, “The Shift Cafe” by Cindy Allen-Studkey with Karen Packwood:

“Legacy” by Christy Dance Greenhut

I won’t leave a statue or a portrait in the museum of art,
instead I hope to leave a thousand pieces of my heart.
I hope I’ve set the example to show kindness to all,
and shared with them my struggles, even after I fall.
I hope they’ve seen me rise and find a different way,
to start again, to find the hope and beauty of each new day.

And I wish to conclude with the most important lyric from “The Child” which I wrote and can be located online when searching Sally Webster Albums: “What does a child need? Love’s the antidote.” The love of this community was so evident during the evening, has been, and always will be!

* Note 1: There was a prayer service for the school year on the Hope Town Square afterward under the leadership of the Hope Ministerial Association that was well attended.

* Note 2: Please check out the website of Students' Fund of Hope. If wishing to participate, please contact Whitney at 812-350-2526.