ABINGDON, Va. ― Students in Cornerstone Christian Academy’s (CCA) Chick-fil-A Leader Academy are driven by one goal — to make a long-lasting, positive impact on Washington County, Virginia, and the surrounding region.
On Friday, CCA’s 17 students in the leadership program, along with more than 200 additional students, faculty and staff came together to put the finishing touches on the James 1:27 Project, an effort to help provide supplies and comfort for children in Washington County’s foster care system.
Friday’s activity featured a school-wide packing party, resulting in the assembly of 200 care packages for foster children ranging from infants to 16 years old. Each package included a pillow, pillowcase, blanket, stuffed animal, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, hairbrush, and pajamas. Packages also contained a Bible, a collection of Bible verses and handwritten notes of encouragement from CCA students to foster care children and their foster parents.
CCA students in the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy planned, coordinated and executed the project, which included exceeding the fundraising goal of $10,000 that was needed to amass 200 care packages.
“Today’s event is a celebration because it’s the capstone to a discussion that began last fall when students brainstormed their project idea for this school year,” says Hannah Pollard, director of student development for CCA. “This project enabled our students to work together, from start to finish, for a worthy cause that will have a positive, direct impact on children in our community. James 1:27 instructs us to visit widows and orphans in their affliction, and this outreach demonstrates how we can hopefully brighten the lives of others through a simple act of kindness.”
CCA’s Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is sponsored by Chick-fil-A at Exit 7 in Bristol, Virginia. Funding for the school’s James 1:27 Project included a $1,500 grant from Chick-fil-A, along with donations from several local churches, businesses and individuals. Going forward, the school plans to continue the project and broaden its overall impact by doubling next year’s total number of care packages and engaging local churches to serve as distribution centers.
One of the core elements of the CCA experience is seeking opportunities to serve others, which directly aligns with the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy and its ‘Impact Through Action’ emphasis. With more than 1,050 participating schools throughout 40 states, the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is designed for grades 9-12 and has had 110,000 student participants since its inception in 2013. For more information, visit www.chickfilaleaderacademy.com.
Located in Abingdon, CCA is a classical, non-denominational Christian school serving students in junior kindergarten through 12th grade. Since 2016, CCA has been accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) for grades K-12. For more information about CCA, visit www.cornerstoneabingdon.org.