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Founders of Teen Tree ministry Brent and Misty Jeno are asking members of the community to help make sure local teens have what they need this holiday season. Contributed photo
It began with Catoosa County bus driver Brent Jeno sharing with his wife, Misty, about some teens on his route who weren’t dressed appropriately for school because they couldn’t afford clothes. The couple knew they had to meet the need.
Today, Teen Tree ministry reaches out to more than 60 local teens each year during the holiday season.
“We started with one teen in December 2002 that we personally chose to buy Christmas for,” explained Misty Jeno of the ministry’s origin. “We ended up helping 35 students that first year because we realized the need was so great. After that year we knew we could not stop.”
With the holidays rapidly approaching, Teen Tree workers are already taking donations as they anticipate helping more teenagers than ever due to recent economic conditions.
The ministry collects new clothing items including hats, coats, gloves, pants, shirts, shoes and other essentials and delivers them wrapped as Christmas presents to local teenagers and their families who have a need.
“In addition to clothing and school supplies, we offer food baskets to each family with staples and some fresh and perishable items,” Jeno said. “We do not give money or gift certificates.”
The assistance stays local and delivery of the gifts takes place as close to Christmas as possible.
“It’s an opportunity to help an individual teen in our community who’s truly in need that might otherwise slip through the everyday cracks,” Jeno said. “These are kids in our own backyard and they truly appreciate what they get.”
People interested in taking this opportunity to help local teens can either mail a tax deductible donation to Rock Pointe Worship Center, P.O. Box 942, Rossville, Ga 30741.
The Teen Tree Christmas Bike Run begins at 11:30 a.m. Nov.28 at the Fort Oglethorpe K-Mart and will end at Lakeview First Baptist Church at 1 p.m. For more information about Teen Tree or to find out how to help, e-mail Misty Jeno at mildtowild@catt.com or call (423) 838-9233.
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