A Miracle in Progress by Anna H. Bedford

Beth Cone, a counselor at Cotter Primary School in rural Arkansas, was worried. Here were two little girls, obviously sisters and new to the district, arriving late to school after classes had begun. Their exhausted mother dropped them off, saying she had driven all night in her broken-down old car to get there.

The girls were hungry, dirty and tired. Their mom didn’t have any breakfast for them and didn’t say what they should do after school. Fortunately, Beth Cone was resourceful. It was too late for the free school breakfast, but she grabbed some snack foods from the supply in her office. She fed the girls and cleaned them up, noting how thin they were and how the younger sister’s hair was dull and stringy—a sure sign of malnourishment.

After the girls were settled in class she managed to reach their mother and make plans for after-school transportation. When the time came to go home, each girl was wearing a large backpack, stuffed full of tasty, nutritious foods and a couple of bars of soap.

“Their mother was so thankful she cried,” says Beth. “It’s easy to tell parents to feed their children or give them a bath, but what if they don’t have the resources? I am thankful I have something to give parents to feed and bathe their children. And, you know, by the end of the year that younger girl’s hair was much better, and she seems to be growing.”

Where did Beth Cone find the snacks and backpacks to give these hungry children? She got them from “Food for Kids,” a program of Arkansas Rice Depot. Since its inception in 1995, this program, which supplies public schools with food for children in need, has expanded rapidly.

How are teachers and administrators leading the fight against childhood hunger in Arkansas? Learn more about the Arkansas Rice Depot in the November/December issue of Horizons.

Call 800/524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/December 2007 issue (HZN-07-260; $4 plus shipping).

Anna H. Bedford is a member of Presbyterian Women at First Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, and is former associate editor of Horizons.

Photo by Darcy Kietel

Other Articles Online This Issue

Raising Children, Growing Ourselves
There's Something About Mary
A Miracle in Progress
When We Recognize Our Sisters
Together in Congo
Project Homecoming
Beyond the Kitchen Counter
Continuing the Journey
Keeping the Link [A WEB EXCLUSIVE]
Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church
Working for Justice and Peace
Faithful Parenting
Strengthening the PC(USA)


How are teachers and administrators leading the fight against childhood hunger in Arkansas? Learn more about the Arkansas Rice Depot in the November/ December issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/ December 2007 issue (HZN-07-260; $4 plus shipping).	A Miracle in Progress by Anna H. Bedford Dedicated schoolteachers and administrators enable a faith-based Arkansas food bank to transform the way food banks across the nation respond to childhood hunger. Beth Cone, a counselor at Cotter Primary School in rural Arkansas, was worried. Here were two little girls, obviously sisters and new to the district, arriving late to school after classes had begun. Their exhausted mother dropped them off, saying she had driven all night in her broken-down old car to get there. The girls were hungry, dirty and tired. Their mom didn’t have any breakfast for them and didn’t say what they should do after school. Fortunately, Beth Cone was resourceful. It was too late for the free school breakfast, but she grabbed some snack foods from the supply in her office. She fed the girls and cleaned them up, noting how thin they were and how the younger sister’s hair was dull and stringy—a sure sign of malnourishment. After the girls were settled in class she managed to reach their mother and make plans for after-school transportation. When the time came to go home, each girl was wearing a large backpack, stuffed full of tasty, nutritious foods and a couple of bars of soap. “Their mother was so thankful she cried,” says Beth. “It’s easy to tell parents to feed their children or give them a bath, but what if they don’t have the resources? I am thankful I have something to give parents to feed and bathe their children. And, you know, by the end of the year that younger girl’s hair was much better, and she seems to be growing.” Where did Beth Cone find the snacks and backpacks to give these hungry children? She got them from “Food for Kids,” a program of Arkansas Rice Depot. Since its inception in 1995, this program, which supplies public schools with food for children in need, has expanded rapidly. How are teachers and administrators leading the fight against childhood hunger in Arkansas? Learn more about the Arkansas Rice Depot in the November/December issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/December 2007 issue (HZN-07-260; $4 plus shipping). *Anna H. Bedford* is a member of Presbyterian Women at First Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, and is former associate editor of Horizons. Photo by Darcy Kietel Other Articles Online This Issue Raising Children, Growing Ourselves There's Something About Mary A Miracle in Progress When We Recognize Our Sisters Together in Congo Project Homecoming Beyond the Kitchen Counter Continuing the Journey Keeping the Link [A WEB EXCLUSIVE] Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Working for Justice and Peace Faithful Parenting Strengthening the PC(USA)	Current Issue NOV/DEC 2007 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the November/December 2007 (HZN-07-260) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call 800/524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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