Shared Blessings
On a Saturday afternoon in late December, a fleet of cars pulled up in front of The Salvation Army’s Ruth Lilly Women & Children’s Center in downtown Indianapolis. Each was filled with dozens of “Blessing Bags” containing essentials, like toothpaste and socks, as well as comfort items, like blankets and stuffed animals. Led by IUPUI student Derek Mount, the group of college students filled two offices with 200 of these special bags to be given to the women and children living in the shelter.
This remarkable story started back in September 2020. Like many Hoosiers, Derek endured hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he felt that God was calling him to turn his struggles into service.
“I saw God work in mighty ways and he showed me things that nothing in this world could offer,” he explained. “I decided I wanted to show that hope to others.”
He shared his desire to serve with a friend, who quickly connected Derek with The Salvation Army. Once he learned more about the Ruth Lilly Women & Children’s Center, Derek decided to take on Project Blessing Bags and bring hope to the residents of the shelter. All he needed was a team to help him fulfill his dream of filling 100 bags.
After reaching out to an old high school friend, word spread and friends from all walks of Derek’s life came forward to help him, from childhood friends to classmates from IUPUI.
“I won’t see how the bags impact their recipients, but it was really great how we could use these different connections,” Derek said, reflecting on how everything seemed to come together. “One thing led to another. It’s all connected, and that was very cool to see.”
Derek worked with his alma mater, Church Point Christian Academy, to collect donations. He also organized a fundraiser with his campus ministry and used the $300 raised to purchase New Testament Bibles for the women’s bags. To support his mission, Derek wrote a book sharing his journey with Christ and used the money from his sales to purchase additional items.
After preparing around 100 Blessing Bags in 2020, the team redoubled their efforts to return to the shelter in 2021. All of their hard work paid off and 200 additional bags were delivered in time for Christmas. Additional items, including boxes of diapers, wipes, and paper towels, were added to the delivery, much to the delight of staff. Thanks to Derek’s heart for service, the residents of the shelter had something special this Christmas season to remind them of God’s love for them.
“As Christians, we’re called to be the light of the world,” Derek said. “Maybe these bags can point to Christ and the hope that’s found in Him.”