[caption id="attachment_6076" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Allie, Jacob and Christian Lively, along with two friends from church, sold lemonade to raise money to meet their school supply goal."][/caption]

DALLAS – Tucker Burgin, 10, became a Buckner volunteer in January. Upon learning about the need for school supplies for foster children in his community, he contacted the principal of his elementary school to help him meet his goal of raising supplies. Within five weeks, the school posted his initiative on the website, sent a letter home with every student and set up a box for kids to donate school supplies outside the main office.

“Tucker has showed an incredible amount of passion and determination to meet this need,” said Lindsay Miller, Buckner North Texas volunteer engagement coordinator. “After the first meeting was over, he walked right up to me and informed me that he was going to make an announcement at his school assembly about this and get everyone involved. His passion has not wavered, and he has kept his promise.”

Three siblings – Allie, Jacob and Christian Lively, of Wylie, Texas – also jumped at the opportunity to help other kids in their community through a supply drive. They opened a lemonade stand to raise money to meet their school supply goal. They served lemonade during one of their church fellowship meals and raised $62 to go toward their supply drive. The Livelys also are talking to their church members about the Buckner foster care program and involving other kids in their youth group.

When children are put into a foster home, they experience many changes and one of the biggest can be attending a new school. Supplies and other gifts are always needed to help ease the transition.

“Since 1974, April has been a month to celebrate volunteers around the country. At Buckner, we celebrate the value volunteers bring to our clients and staff through donating their time,” Miller said. “Each volunteer is an important piece of our ministry, whether they help case managers with paperwork or mentor a child through a difficult time, volunteers help us care for the children and families we are called to serve.”

For more information about volunteering with Buckner in North Texas, please contact Lindsay Miller at lkmiller@buckner.org or call 214-321-4534.