2019 Adopt-A-School Review

Jan 3, 2020 | by Rev.Matt Ybanez

At the beginning of 2019, our Adopt-A-School Ministry Team, comprised of liaisons with each of our five campuses, set out to strive for excellence in the ways we support HEB ISD students, teachers and administrators. Our goal was to work closely with our schools, listen well and help to meet needs that were going unmet. As a congregation you heard the need and responded in amazing ways! For the first time ever, we reached an incredible milestone.

In 2019, the total value of all Adopt-A-School grants, school supplies, gifts, teacher appreciation, Christmas Shopping Spree and Hot Dog Extravaganza events surpassed $37,000!

What did we do in 2019?

• Bellaire Elementary
  School supplies, Christmas Shopping Spree, teacher appreciation meals, Spirit Shirt sponsorship, essential personal items for the nurse’s office and a coffee maker and microwave for the Teacher’s Lounge.
  *Mentors and Tutors are Needed Right Now!*
• Harrison Lane Elementary
  Hot Dog Extravaganza, classroom books, school supplies, Christmas Shopping Spree, teacher appreciation meals, water bottles and snacks for Field Day, and essential personal items for the nurse’s office.
• Donna Park Elementary (Brand New Partnership)
  Weekend Backpack Feeding Ministry, Hot Dog Extravaganza, school supplies, Christmas Shopping Spree and Spirit Shirts for the entire school.
• Hurst Junior High
  Teacher appreciation, fulfilled 16 teacher wish lists for classroom supplies, more than 200 classroom books, an Android tablet for ESL student translation, headphones, lapboards and more.
• LD Bell High School
  School supplies, backpacks and FUMC Hurst facilities use.

FUMC Hurst also supported the May 2019 HEB Reads event with volunteers and a booth.

In July, our congregation became the first and only church in our community to be a Gold-Level, Lead Gift Donor to the HEB ISD Education Foundation which provides excellence in education grants to schools in HEB ISD with a commitment of $5,000 per year in 2019, 2020 and 2021. With this commitment, FUMC Hurst becomes not only a Campus Adopter, but also an HEB ISD District Adopter.

In August, we expanded the Hot Dog Extravaganza to serve 3,000 hotdogs at two elementary schools...at the same time...on the same day. Thank you to 60 amazing church volunteers and community sponsors Freeman, Kroger and Rita’s Ice!

During the school supply drive in August, our congregation amassed more than 7,600 school supply items with a total monetary value of $9,475.

In December, our youth took 40 students from our three elementary schools on our annual Christmas Shopping Spree so they could shop and select gifts for each of their families. If you ever need a pick-me-up, there is a massive pile of thank-you notes in the church office from our very appreciative schools.

Thank you! Your generosity is making a huge difference in our community.