Wish to Santa gives faith to all
BY Scottie Brown
The Greenville Standard
Pictured are Faith, Grace and Charlotte Anderson (Faith Project) with Chamber pages Joshua Cortez and Sawyer Hennis with Headstart students who received blankets and bags from the Faith Project. (Bruce Branum | The Standard
A little girl’s simple request to Santa Christmas three years ago has led to an ever-growing blanket ministry for the homeless.
After going on a school field trip, The Faith Project was born from Faith Baker’s request to Santa to provide blankets to the homeless.
“We want to give blankets to the little kids, we want them to be warm,” Faith said. “I went on a field trip on the Polar Express and when I sat in Santa’s lap I told him I wanted to give blankets to the homeless. My momma asked Mrs. Staci if Charlotte wanted to help, and Grace is my sister so of course she was going to help.”
Baker’s family said blankets came in from all around the community from many of the local churches, and with the help of her friends Charlotte Anderson and sister Grace, word spread throughout the county of the girls’ efforts. The project was able to take blankets, coloring books, crayons and stuffed animals to two different shelters in Montgomery after its first year of serving.
The project continued to grow, and in 2016 bibles, coats and more were delivered to three shelters, W.O. Palmer School, Georgiana School, McKenzie School, community nursing homes, victims of the Gatlinburg fires and hosted a food drive for Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Food Basket at their school.
In 2017, the girls were able to donate blankets to the Pre-K4 class at Bright Beginnings, sent supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, provided 100 Headstart K4 students blankets as well as again to local schools in the area and Brantwood Children’s Home and the Friendship Mission Men’s and Women’s campuses in Montgomery.
“We give blankets to everyone who doesn’t have one. We’ve been to four different places. We go each year around Christmas. We ask for donations,” Charlotte said.
By the end of September, the girls are hoping to have donated more than 150 blankets to those in need with efforts being concentrated on Bright Beginnings of McKenzie and Headstart classes throughout Butler County.
The Faith Project works to provide toothbrushes, hats, gloves, socks and other needed items to those in need. The organization is currently in need of new blankets, coloring books, crayons, books, bibles and gently used coats.
Items may be dropped off at Antioch East Baptist Church, Camellia City Bakery or Saint Thomas Episcopal Church. The organization will also pick up donations when scheduled.
For more information regarding The Faith Project or to invite Faith, Grace and Charlotte speak at your organizations next event, please email or call Staci Anderson at stacianderson@me.com or 334-313-7872. The organization can also be found on Facebook under The Faith Project.
