Students Benefit from Church’s Continued Generosity

School and Church members (front row, left to right): Christina Carrion, Eric Fort, Scott Muckensturm, Chris Everson, April Payne, JoNell Mellody, Rachel Camp, Richard Davis, Bobby Summers, (back row) Mike Anderson, Sally and Frank Trette and Kevin Worthy.

First UMC Royse City pays off lunch deficits for all students in local school district

Helping at Davis Elementary School, through the One+One initiative, is something First UMC Royse City has done since 2015. What started as a way to encourage, support and read with students soon reached an entire community.

At first, it was the mentor program. Over time, church members saw needs at the school. They began helping in the office and with bus pickup. Then, at the beginning of the school year, members provided lunch to teachers with door prizes and walked the halls praying for the staff and students that would soon gather.

When children cannot afford to go on field trips, church members step up to provide funds. In addition, a prayer request form is available for teachers to fill out for Rev. Chris Everson, pastor of First UMC Royse City, to pray for them.

“Staff members have commented to me that it makes them feel like someone in the community cares about them and what goes on at our school,” Davis Elementary assistant principal Rachel Camp said.

Students across the Royse City ISD will benefit from the church’s latest act of generosity. Call it a Christmas miracle right here in the North Texas Conference.

After covering the cost of lunch deficits at Davis Elementary in 2017, First UMC Royse City decided – after a unanimous vote by the church council – to expand that practice for all students in 2018-19.

“Our church has the tradition of giving away our entire Christmas Eve offering” Everson said. Funds collected during the church’s Christmas Eve services were dedicated to paying off lunch debts. All told, it amounted to a $10,000 donation to the district.

“[This] will be used to zero out any school lunch accounts that were at least $20 behind,” said Adi Bryant, chief communications officer for Royse City ISD. “Initially, 226 student accounts were zeroed out for a total of about $6,000. The remainder will be used through the end of the school year to help those families in need.”

“Pastor Everson and First United Methodist Church are simply amazing. This generous donation is just the latest example of how they love our community, schools and kids. As a school district, we are so truly thankful for the church and the love they show our families.”

Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2019