Giving Students Hope in the Midst of Desperation
You never know who you’ll run into at the SBC of Virginia Annual Homecoming, but you can always rely on God’s perfect timing. When Dolly Mink, Women’s Ministry Coordinator at the SBCV, sat down on a bench outside the sanctuary to catch up on a couple of emails, she had no idea that the Lord had appointed that bench and that time for a divine encounter.
A few weeks earlier, Mink reached out to Mandy Helvig, the Women’s Ministry Director at River Oak Church in Chesapeake, to ask about the missions work the women’s ministry is involved in. Being a member of River Oak, Dolly wanted to learn more about how God is working through the church to reach women, students, and faculty at the local schools.
Years ago, it was determined that many students at Oscar Smith High School were considered “at risk,” not knowing where they would eat or sleep on any given night. This meant they were also unsure whether they would have breakfast before school. A need was identified, and the women went into action: breakfast bars, pre-packaged pastries, protein bars, and other breakfast items were collected and delivered to the school. In addition, a women’s Bible study group saw a need to supply toiletries so students could shower in the morning before school.
In just a few weeks, counselors reported that not only had behavior among these students improved, but grades and attendance were also on the rise.
Today, this program, known as ROOTS (River Oak Outreach Program for Schools), has grown to supply mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves, as well as toiletries, breakfast items, and school supplies. Now the Children’s Program also collects and gives to the schools. The women of 18 different Bible studies have adopted the Mitten Tree, which benefits local elementary and middle schools.
That evening in Roanoke, as Dolly checked her email, another woman approached her. Through tears, the woman explained that a family member had been personally blessed by the generosity of the women’s ministry. She hoped her personal connection could be shared so the ladies of River Oak would know just how important this mission was. By meeting simple needs, students’ situations went from desperate to hopeful. Indeed, those students and teachers know they are not alone.
Mandy Helvig summarized the mission’s strategy, “Through women’s ministry, we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community—supporting local students and teachers, meeting practical needs such as mittens, school supplies, or meals, and showing them they are seen and valued.”
