Texarkana Students Lead the Way: “Helping Hands” Project Delivers Big for Community

A big congratulations to the students at Texarkana Independent School District's Student Lighthouse Team. They hosted a wonderful community service event at Mission Texarkana.

This event ran from 9 AM to noon back on Saturday, May 17. The event brought students, staff and local leaders together to help serve people in our area dealing with food insecurities and homelessness.

The students have been working on this project for months, and boy, did they deliver!  The project was themed 'Helping Hands: Working Together for a Better Community. The students collected over 13,000 essential items and raised over $9,000 for local organizations.

They collected everything from canned goods, flashlights, and personal hygiene products and it will all go to help support Mission Texarkana, East Texas Food Bank, Harvest Texarkana, and the Randy Sams' Outreach Shelter. Each organization will receive a check for $2,250.

Student leaders also distributed blessing bags at the event and spent time with people in our area in need.

Get our free mobile app

Elodia Witterstaetter, Director of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and District Student Lighthouse Coordinator, said in a press release,.

This project is a shining example of student leadership in action.

There was also some big help from Cracker Barrel as they donated breakfast, and Texarkana Reformed Baptist Church provided lunch. Even Mayor Bob Bruggeman showed up to support the effort and encourage the district’s focus on youth leadership. Texarkana ISD officials are proud of these students and plan to continue showing students how to lead by serving others and making a positive contribution to our community.