SMILES FOR THE CAMERA, WATER SLIDES ABOUND IN WILCOX COUNTY

The Home continues to expand mission outreach efforts in Wilcox County, with a special school picture day in April and an “end-ofschool” party in May.

In our partnership with M.I.N.D. Mentoring in New Dimensions, we invited Home alumnus Samantha Ferguson to F.S. Ervin Elementary in Pine Hill, Wilcox County, to utilize her photography talents and take school pictures of the children we work with often.

Along with taking photos, the Home gave out containers packed full with goodies donated by ministry partner Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Dothan. The containers included art supplies, beautiful plastic plates, blankets, toys, and even oral hygiene items.

On top of that, M.I.N.D. founder Brooks Thomas gave out to each child more toys and a brown bag lunch. Samantha took photos of the children individually and with the principal and teachers in their classrooms and some parents, much like she did at our Ascension Leadership Academy in March.

While Samantha is a professional Realtor with Keller Williams and owner of His Hands Photographs, she spent her early teen years at the Home during a difficult time for her family.

In May, the Home staff made a trip back to F.S. Ervin Elementary to host an outdoor end-ofthe-school-year party with M.I.N.D. Lots of smiles and laughter filled the school yard in Pine Hill as children played on water slides and in a bounce house. They tried out frisbees and enjoyed wonderful food grilled by M.I.N.D. leader Brooks Thomas.