Bright Futures partners share community connections

Jim Ward speaks Friday during a breakfast for Bright Futures about the ways the Bread Shed helps Poplar Bluff Schools.

DAR/Misty DeJournett

Bright Futures is a program that is designed to provide a framework of support to communities.

The program goal is to assist in connecting families, students and community members in need to available services and resources in the area, attendees were told Friday during a special event at the Black River Coliseum to share partner information and program updates.

Marcia Priest, library media specialist and coordinator of The Giving Closet at Poplar Bluff schools, shared how the program assists students in need with many items of everyday necessity. The Giving Closet is one of many programs that operates in partnership with Bright Futures.

RT McCain, an educational instructor at Poplar Bluff’s alternative school, who has taken the personal initiative to serve as a youth advocate and mentor in the area, joined the Bright Futures event.

DAR/Misty DeJournett

“Our biggest clothing need is sweat pants and hoodies,” explained Priest, who went on to say the organization provides students not only with clothing and food, but also toiletry items such as shampoo, deodorant and toothbrushes. “Our biggest need there is always the deodorant and toothpaste.”

“Our biggest need for sending food home are backpacks,” said Priest. “I put the food in backpacks so that nobody knows because at the high school level, it’s embarrassing.”

School personnel see a lot of stuff that just makes your heart hurt every single day, said Bright Futures partner Rebecca Hester.

Dave Elledge speaks Friday about the Sleep In Heavenly Peace organization, which builds beds for children in need.

DAR/Misty DeJournette

“Some of them are coming from homes with no beds,” she continued. “What kind of dignity can a person have if you are having to sleep on the floor?”

Dave and Luann Elledge, who also attended the presentation, came to present Sleep In Heavenly Peace. According to their brochure, SHP is a non-profit organization that uses 100% of the donations they receive to build beds for children in need.

“We’re kind of a child of Bright Futures,” said Dave Elledge, “because of Bright Futures we exist in Poplar Bluff.”

“Child bedlessness — it’s hard to put a finger on exactly how many kids out there don’t have a place to sleep, but experts say somewhere between 3-5% of the kids we see in our schools don’t have a decent place to sleep tonight ­— that’s a lot of kids,” Elledge continued. “If a child doesn’t get a good night’s sleep when they come to school the next morning it’s hard to teach them.”

SHP seeks to remedy that problem by building beds, complete with bedding, for those in need. The organization is funded by donations and driven by volunteers.

“Build days” offer opportunities for even the inexperienced to get involved with the building process.

Also discussed during the early morning conference was the Lunch Buddies Program. Melanie Hamann took the opportunity to share her experience with the Lunch Buddies Program in hopes it might encourage others to take part.

“I’ve been a lunch buddy for seven years,” said Hamann. “The need is so great.

“I’m often asked if I’m making a difference. The average person might say no — but what I remind myself is that an hour a week isn’t going to change their life, but I am showing the love of Jesus. However, the true difference has been made in me.”

The Bright Futures Program seeks to create connections between parents, community members, educators and others either needing or providing resources in the area.

Anyone interested in taking part in a build day with the SHP program can contact Elledges at 573-429-0960. If you are interested in taking part in the Bright Future Program, contact Carrie Booker or Donna Moore at 573-785-7751.