A Mount Sterling non-profit is providing bags of hope to members of its community.
'The TERF Project'--also known as the Terri E. Rice Foundation--helps underprivileged students and their families.
"We have three focuses: the 'Wow Pal Program', 'Baskets of Hope', and 'Food for Change'," said the project's director, Tonia Witt.
The 'Wow Pal Program' sets up underprivileged students with an anonymous donor, who then provides basic necessities to the student once a month. Those necessities can include deodorant, soap, or clothes--though the occasional bag of candy makes its way through. Donors also include a letter to the student, encouraging them to keep their heads up.
'Baskets of Hope' has the same general concept, except there are no anonymous donors--laundry baskets are filled with household necessities and distributed throughout the year.
'Food for Change' is an in-school program that provides snack money to children who need it.
Witt said one in ten middle school children is helped by The TERF Project.
The non-profit's namesake, Terri E. Rice, was Witt's mother. She died of cancer in 2008.
Members of the project said they hope it grows to help even more people.
When asked why, Witt recited the non-profit's slogan: "You get what you want when you give others what they need."
For more information on The TERF Project, you can visit its
Facebook page or
website.
