A short school week didn't stop students at Cutter Morning Star School District from donating items for one sixth-grader's mission to help children in foster care.
Jacob Harbin placed boxes in both the elementary and high schools on Jan. 8 for students to bring donations of clothes, shoes, diapers, wipes and toys for The CALL of Garland and Hot Spring Counties. His donation drive was to take place from Jan. 15-19, but he said from the time the boxes were set up, people began bringing items.
The Harbin family recently became a foster family in the last year, and the experience has had an impact on Jacob Harbin, according to his mother.
"As a family, it brings you closer together," Brandy Harbin said. "You realize all the blessings you have. When our foster child came to us, our world stopped. It is not an easy task, but there is so much support available, and we are taking care of God's children through fostering."
With her son being the youngest and the only one still living at home, Brandy Harbin said fostering has given her son an opportunity to see what the world is really like.
"Kids live in a bubble, but when you open your child's eyes to see that the world is not perfect, you put them on a path to find how they can help," she said.
Jacob Harbin came to his mother with a plan to help The CALL, an organization that provides support to foster families in the community in various ways. He had hoped to hold a fundraiser to purchase items for The CALL Mall, but after thinking and problem solving he decided asking for item donations would be better.
As his next step, Jacob Harbin reached out to his principal Terry Lawler for approval on the idea.
"How can you say no to an idea like this?" she said. "I was so touched by his compassion at a young age. We have a great group of students here, and he is one of many. I was moved by his empathy and compassion."
As of Friday, donations were still coming in, and Jacob Harbin's mission has inspired others in the community to donate to The CALL.
"The Hot Springs Women's Welcome Club, after reading the article a few weeks ago, reached out to me and said they wanted to participate," said Dennis Berry, PRIDE training coordinator for The CALL. "I put Peggy Holt in touch with Jacob's mom. His leadership has spread all over town."
The items will be available to families in The CALL Mall's two locations -- in the Goodwill Store and Donation Center at 205 Garrison Road, and at Hot Springs Baptist Church, 144 Weston Road.
The CALL Mall began out of the needs of children in foster care for personal items that their foster families needed to be able to get for them quickly.
"We started with a storage unit that DHS had, and when we got there it was in disarray and a lot of it wasn't suitable for kids," Phil Ellis, church recruitment coordinator, said. "Judy (Ellis) and a few other ladies sorted everything and started soliciting donations.
"We wanted to satisfy the needs of our children in foster care. Babies will come to a foster family wrapped in just a blanket, so at The CALL Mall children get three outfits, diapers and wipes if they need it, backpacks to carry their things in. A lot will come to us with what little they have in a garbage bag, and it breaks your heart."
For children new to welcoming foster children into their homes, Jacob Harbin said kindness is key.
"Make sure you are kind, loving and gentle," he said. "Always look on the bright side."
And to those in his school who took time to make a difference, he is grateful.
"I just want to thank all the people that donated for their generosity," he said. "I hope for the rest of your life you know that you helped God's children in foster care."
Local on 01/21/2018