JSCC Nursing Class Donation

Many nurses have been known for their kind hearts and care for others. I guess it is just one of those common quality most nurses intrinsically possess. This was evident on Thursday when a class of nursing students from Jackson State Community College with their teacher Belinda Higgins showed up at the RIFA loading dock with a donation.

Mrs. Higgins heard on the news about the Snack Backpack program. So, she contacted RIFA about a month ago asking for the item list for the Snack Backpack program. Then we did not hear from her until she rang the loading dock bell on Thursday. Her class of nursing students came together and raised 268 lbs of Snack Backpack food items!!!

RIFA would like to thank Mrs. Higgins and her class for their large donation! All of this food will help provide school children, who have access to little or no food over the weekend, with a bag of food!

Delta Sigma Theta Makes Generous Snack Backpack Donation!

The need for Snack Backpack items is a continual need here at RIFA. Providing 485 bags for elementary students per week is a daunting task when funds are limited. Yet, God has been faithful to continue to provide for this program. Many individuals, church, and other organizations continue to donate to this program.

Recently, the ladies of Sigma Delta Sigma Theta brought a large donation for Snack Backpack. Their donation that day provided enough food for almost one week of Snack Backpack. RIFA would like to thank these ladies for their generous contribution!

Turkey Day 5-K Results (12-5-11)

Gold’s Gym in Jackson recently held a 5k run to benefit RIFA. The race was held on Thanksgiving Day, it was a 5k. There were over 650 runners that came to participate. It is the largest race in Jackson currently and a chip-timed  race as well. The check was presented to RIFA  Monday (12/5) and was in the amount of $5,000!  Steve Roten was the organizer of the race and  owner of Gold’s Gym in Jackson.

RIFA would like to thank Gold’s Gym and all of those who ran for their support of our ministry here!

Northside High School Food Drive 11/15/11

Northside High School decided they wanted to help out the community. They decided they wanted to organize a food drive to benefit RIFA. Led by Chief Royce Barron and the ROTC the school came together for this project. Many of the major student organizations joined in to make this project a success. It was an effort by the whole school.

The group set 1000lbs as their goal. The day before the food drive was to end, they were disheartened because they thought they were only going to collect half of their goal. However, as the last day of the food drive concluded they were able to exceed their goal. Northside raised 1600lbs of food! It is good to see a school come together to help, not themselves, but others!

RIFA would like to thank Northside for  their generous donation and for their time  they gave to make this project a success!

 

Jackson Energy Authority Canstruction Entry

Jackson Energy Authority

First Christian Church Youth Group

First Christian Church Youth Group

Fellowship Bible Church Canstruction Creation

Fellowship Bible Church

Englewood Baptist Church Canstruction Creation

Englewood Baptist Church’s Structure

Canstruction Structures Up in Mall

The structures for the 2011 Canstruction competition were assembled last night in the Old Hickory Mall.      Seven teams spent yesterday transporting their cans and then constructing their structures during yesterdays build out. The participants this year were: Englewood Baptist Church, Fellowship Bible Church, First Christian Church Youth Group, Gerdau, Jackson Energy Authority, Regional Hospital of Jackson and Vaughan Associates Architects, and West TN Healthcare.

If you have not already come and see the structures before they are taken apart on Friday October 28th. These teams have worked very hard over the past few months. It takes a good amount of preparation, work, and money to build a structure. The teams are responsible for making a design for their project. They then have to collect the cans required to make that structure. Finally, they have only a handful of hours to assemble their structures at the mall. So, go by and admire their hard work and great structures!

All the food collected goes to RIFA and from there it will be distributed in several different ways to feed those who are hungry in the community. Thanks to all the teams involved. A special thanks to the Old Hickory Mall for allowing RIFA to use their facilities.

Stay tuned all seven structures will be posted between now and next Tuesday. This will allow you to see them all if you are not able to go to the mall. The awards will be announced on October 25th!

USJ/Trinity Food Drive Results!

Trinity Christian Academy and the University School of Jackson recently completed a joint food drive for RIFA this last week. The two schools decided to have a food drive competition against one another in order to benefit RIFA, thus impacting to community.

When organizers from both schools and RIFA met together to organize the event a month ago it was concluded that 4000 to 5000 lbs would be a successful food drive.

The food drive ended Thursday at 6pm and the food was picked up on Friday morning. The total amount collected was not what was originally hoped (4-5k), but “16,000″ lbs!!! Our jaws are dropped at RIFA and we are incredibally thankful to God and the schools for these results. The food will go a long way in feeding the hungry in Jackson and surrounding areas.

USJ was announced as the winner of the First Annual Bruin-Lion RIFA Cup. We expect another great food drive next year. Who will win? Tune in next year…