Our Social Therapy Projects:
Be Blessed Bags
The "Be Blessed Bag" initiative is a heartfelt project of the Social Therapy Project. It addresses an often overlooked need—personal hygiene for children whose families face financial hardships. It's a simple gesture that carries profound significance for a child in need, transforming everyday hygiene products into treasures of hope and care.
These bags, thoughtfully assembled with gender-appropriate hygiene essentials, are more than just practical aids; they come with a special prayer card from Valencia, offering encouragement and a reminder of their unique value in God's eyes.
But why are these bags so crucial? Good personal hygiene boosts children's confidence, directly impacting their academic performance and social interactions. Feeling clean and cared for can make a significant difference in a child's life, helping to ward off bullying and fostering a sense of well-being.
Each Be Blessed Bag is a gallon sized bag filled with full-size personal hygiene items such as: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, lotion, soap, razors, chapstick, and hand sanitizer, with additional feminine hygiene products included in bags for girls. Be Blessed Bags are given to those that are most in need.
Valencia and her team prepare and distribute these bags with care. The recipients are selected by school counselors, who identify 25 male and 25 female students in need with input from teachers. These students are discreetly invited to receive their Be Blessed Bags privately, ensuring dignity and respect. Valencia Jones, alongside Will James and with the support of the school principal, personally hands out the bags during a special meeting at the end of the school day. As the children leave with their bags secretly stowed in their backpacks, they carry more than just hygiene products—they carry a message of love, support, and community, reinforcing the Social Therapy Project's commitment to healing and uplifting communities, one child at a time.
We are pleased to announce that over the past two years, we have extended our project to benefit all underprivileged high schools in Shreveport and shifted our focus to the middle schools.
Schools Blessed by Be Blessed Bags
Booker T Washington High School (9/2021)
Green Oaks High School (2/2022)
Huntington High School (9/2022)
Woodlawn High School (12/2022)
Southwood High School (2/2023)
Northwood High School (9/2023)
Magnolia Middle and High School (3/2024)
If you or your organization would like to host a donation drive, here is the list of needed items. Pick-up or drop-off can be scheduled.
Items needed for donation:
(Please, full size only.)
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Deodorant (men/women)
Lotion
Soap
Razors (men/women)
Feminine Pads
Feminine Douche
Chapstick
Hand Sanitizer
Heroes’ Giving
The Heroes' Giving, taking place in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, is a heartwarming tradition within the Social Therapy Project to honor our veterans. The team visits low-income veteran apartments yearly, preparing and serving over 100 meals to express gratitude and support. Any remaining food is offered as extra plates, ensuring every veteran has enough to eat during this season of thanks.
The efforts extend to the Merkel Center, a shelter with a dedicated program for homeless veterans, where the team continues its mission of providing meals and appreciation. This initiative is about feeding those who have served and acknowledging their sacrifices with a tangible gesture of thanks. It underscores the belief that saying "thank you for your service" is a powerful affirmation, especially when coupled with actions that reflect genuine gratitude and recognition of many veterans' hardships. Through the Heroes' Dinner, the Social Therapy Project conveys a simple yet profound message: we see you, we appreciate you, and we are here for you, not just in words but in deeds that resonate with the spirit of Thanksgiving and the values of community care and appreciation.
Christmas Donations
The Christmas Donations program wraps up the year for the Social Therapy Project with heaps of holiday cheer, spreading the warmth and joy of Christmas to families who might not have experienced it otherwise. Imagine the excitement of a family with nine kids, their faces lighting up as they received gifts and stockings filled to the brim with toys, trinkets, and treats, all thanks to the kindness of community donations.
It's moments like these that truly capture the spirit of the season.
Will James delivering presents.
Among those touched by this wave of generosity were families finding their way out of tough times, including those escaping domestic violence and arriving at a home with little to call their own. Then came the Social Therapy Project team, arms laden with presents and even a surprise basketball goal, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable celebration of community support. Seeing the joy on the children's faces, some marveling at their very first stocking filled with goodies was heart-melting.
This is what "Healing Communities Together" is all about—stepping in with a helping hand when it's needed the most, especially during the season of giving. The Christmas Donations program is more than just a holiday initiative; it's a reminder of the incredible things that happen when we come together as a community, sharing love and support that resonates far beyond the festive season. Through actions big and small, the Social Therapy Project strengthens the ties that bind us, making our community a little brighter, one kind gesture at a time.
