Schools Shine During the Season of Giving

Every year, we look forward to partnering with schools in Coweta and Fayette Counties as they host food drives for the Real Life Center. While a few schools hold drives multiple times throughout the year, most participate during the Season of Giving—September through December, making this time especially meaningful.

It warms our hearts to see children excited about giving. School administrators, teachers, and staff play a vital role in encouraging students and families to participate. Some schools spark enthusiasm through friendly competitions, while others spread the word with flyers, emails, and classroom conversations. Regardless of the approach, the outcome remains the same: everyone comes together to serve neighbors facing hardships in our community.

This year, 15 schools collected over 8,000 pounds of food for our pantry, representing 14% of all donated food during this period! Schools like Braelinn Elementary School, Crabapple Lane Elementary, First Presbyterian Kindergarten and Preschool, Huddleston Elementary, Kedron Elementary, Peachtree City Elementary, Starr’s Mill High School, and Whitewater High School are among those that made a tremendous impact. These donations are a gift and a blessing to many families in our community, helping us provide necessities for stable living.

But the impact goes beyond the food. Children learning the value of giving is an important life skill—one that shapes compassionate hearts and builds stronger communities. The relationship between the Real Life Center and our local schools is truly reciprocal: while their generosity helps us serve families in need, students gain a deeper understanding of empathy, service, and the joy of helping others.

We are deeply grateful to every student, parent, teacher, and staff member who made this possible. Your generosity reflects the true spirit of giving and reminds us of the incredible impact we can make when we work together.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6