I want to update you on
Samaritan’s Purse, one of Jack's favorite charities. Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed in any way! Contributions totaling over $7,000 went to Samaritan’s Purse shortly after Jack’s death. The donations went to
Operation Christmas Child, clean water projects, and disaster relief.
In November, many, many people packed Christmas boxes in Jack’s memory to be sent all over the world, giving needy children what may be the first Christmas gifts of their lives. Thank you to those who participated!
Our family had the privilege of making boxes with our church youth group and at Tim’s office. We dropped off 119 boxes the week before Thanksgiving. An Inch of Gray reader, Katie, got creative and made a
beautiful video featuring Jack to help motivate youth in her church
to give more boxes than ever before!
Next, my sister,
Auntie, set up a virtual running group called
“Jack’s Lanterns" which will run races all over the world in Jack’s honor to raise money for Samaritan’s Purse. Almost $6,000 has been raised by Jack's Lanterns already! Auntie is hoping for $10,000 by Jack’s birthday in mid- March! Runners can sign up by emailing your name and what race you plan on running to me at
aninchofgray@yahoo.com. That’s it. Just let me know, and you ARE one of Jack’s Lanterns.
As a runner, you can make a donation and/or direct your friends and family to the secure website so they can make a donation if they wish. Neighbors, former students, Jack’s Cub Scout leader, high school friends, blog readers, and one of the paramedics from that horrible night are all Jack’s Lanterns. Tim is running the first races of his life to honor his son's memory.
If, like me, you are not an athlete but rather an “athletic supporter” (one of my fave lines from “Grease”), you can go to the
Jack's Lanterns page and donate just as so many generous people have already done. One of Jack and Margaret’s young friends even requested that her friends make donations to Jack's Lanterns instead of giving her presents this year. Wow!
Please spread the word by telling anyone you can think of.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
“Nothing is Impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
