LIGHTEN UP.....At the beginning of God’s story comes a man named Abraham. He is the man who started it all. Jews, Christians, even Muslims alike, we look to this man as the father of our faith, from whence we came. God says to Abraham, “I will bless you, but I will bless you in order to bless others through you.” Jesus showed us life is about giving, not getting.

This school year that was the challenge given to Cherry Road students and did they ever respond to that challenge. The 7th and 10th grade team chose to bless Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, presenting a check of $1930.00 to Ms. Elizabeth Salton, Development Officer at Le Bonheur. The 8th and 11th grade team chose to bless AGAPE’s Families In Touch program, presenting a check of $3161.00 to Mr. David Jordan, Executive Director of AGAPE Child & Family Services. The 9th and 12th grade team chose to bless HopeWorks, presenting a check of $5052.00 to Mr. Ronn Rubio, Cherry Road teacher representing HopeWorks. A grand total of $10,143.00! Even after all of LIGHTEN UP was over, Cherry Road students responded to the call from the “More Than Words” campaign sponsored by Coach Underwood and another $5000.00 was raised to help a neighborhood in need. Not stopping there, the students once again answered the call of the Cherry Road Honduras Mission Team, led by Ms. Katie Wells, 7th grade Science teacher. 280 gift boxes and 77 blankets were donated by Cherry Road students for the mission team to hand out at orphanages in Honduras this summer.

James says "true religion is to take of the needy and to keep yourself unspotted from the world". The world tells us to take, not give. To spend, not donate. To help yourself, not others. Cherry Road students and faculty dared to say “no, there is a better way . . . The way of Christ.”