jacob-live-serve-46.html
1216 DECEMBER
47 / 96
?i understand that college
kids
are busy. we don?t care when you come, just come when you can,?
jacob
encourages. ?e secret is, the volunteers get addicted to the joy that live 2
serve
offers with each child, and they keep coming back. consistency benefits the children, but it also impacts the volunteers.
jacob
?s vision is two-pronged: he hopes live 2
serve
will bring support and relief to the impoverished
kids
of baton rouge but also that those
kids
will change the hearts and minds of the college volunteers. ?i always like seeing the change in the college students. i think we are doing this for the
kids
, but it really does change the college students as well. we have so many volunteering, doing good here, and doing more than just getting a degree at lsu. i definitely see the impact consistent volunteers are making. ?ey?re the ones the
kids
run right up to and hug.? ?you never walk alone? is the motto of live 2
serve
. ?e phrase originated with the liverpool soccer club in england, and is perfect for the live 2
serve
program. ?e
kids
never walk alone. ?e joke is that mr.
jacob
does walk alone. he walks through the neighborhoods every day looking for his
kids
and then he walks them home with other volunteers at night.
jacob
and his team are literally watching these
kids
grow up before their eyes. when he started, some were in diapers and now they are in first grade. ?i?m really excited to see them grow up. i love seeing my high schoolers grow up and stay out of drugs. ?ey know their lives are important. now, i?m always worried about them, but i know they can be successful. ?ey all have the ability to succeed, they just need a little push.? he and his team are dedicated to these
kids
for the long haul. he shares their passion, ?we always try to focus on serving baton rouge. we believe that mission trips end, but we should be on a mission every day. we can
serve
here. ?is is where our passion is.? ?is passion carries over into the holidays, when live 2
serve
becomes the hub of the epic christmas giveaway. christmas giveaway started when
jacob
realized one family couldn?t afford christmas, and he thought about getting college
kids
to collect toys. live 2
serve
enlisted the power of social media to spread their toy crusade. parkview baptist school and st. michael?s also got involved. a friend created a video that was repeatedly shared, and the response was phenomenal. now, the panhellenic greek life?s christmas philanthropy is live 2
serve
. ?e level of support continues to increase. ?is year, the christmas giveaway is december 18 at john parker coliseum at lsu. ?we?re usually the last one of the year, which is good for the mother who just hit a snag or just found out she can?t buy gifts. each child hears the meaning of christmas before getting a ticket to pick out their toys. in the arena, local churches and non-profits set up to share information. santa claus is there and the atmosphere is a christmas carnival with gospel music playing. it?s a beautiful and awesome event,?
jacob
proudly says.
jacob
?s long term vision extends beyond ?omas delpit drive. ?for baton rouge, i want it to become a city wide program. i would love to start one at southern?s campus. i?d love to see it grow nationwide.? arkansas state has started a similar program, and
jacob
is dedicated to helping them realize their own dreams of service. ?e live 2
serve
crew is devoted to changing baton rouge through play and through love.
jacob
challenges all parents, ?go
serve
. because if there?s one thing i?ve realized, it?s that whatever your
kids
see, that?s what the
kids
will do. if you want to have a kid that?s going to do great things and change the world, then you have to go out and change the world yourself.? ? december 2016 | brparents.com 47
family-love-things-48.html