SUPER EMwoman OF THE MONTH

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SUPER EMwomen are ordinary women and girls who demonstrate extraordinary boldness or courage in helping others within their community. If you would like to nominate a Super EMwoman of the Month, leave your suggestions in the comment box below!

Website: http://www.emwomen.com
Location: EMcommunity
Members: 114
Latest Activity: Nov. 24, 2009

This Month's Super EMwoman: Pamela Wiles

Pam Wiles, Founder of Project Backpack

Pam Wiles is an extraordinary gift from God with a passion to use her life to reach families in need throughout Garland County. We asked Pam to tell us more about how she started Project Backpack and why it is such a powerful tool of ministry.

"Project Backpack was birthed eight years ago from a simple question my husband asked me about school supplies being collected at River of Life, the church where we pastor. The question was, “who is getting these school supplies?” I didn’t really have a good answer in that moment and after asking around I realized that no one in our church needed them. So we decided to make a phone call to a local elementary school in our city and ask if the students could use some extra school supplies at the beginning of the year. The answer was a definite “yes” and Project Backpack began with our church raising the money to fill 30 backpacks that year.

Since that time, Project Backpack has become its own 501(c) 3 non-profit and has touched the lives of over 5,000 children in Garland County by giving them a positive start to a new school year that they would not have had otherwise.

I have since become a faculty member at that first school, Oaklawn Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. During that time I have witnessed first-hand both the positive effect of a student who comes to school on the first day with a backpack full of school supplies, and the negative effect of a student that comes with little or no supplies. It is heartbreaking for me to see that student as he or she sits in their desk watching the other students unpack their backpacks and put away supplies that they have carefully written their name on in anticipation of a new school year.

There are many families who, for one reason or another, simply can’t afford to outfit their students with all of the necessities for school. This is especially true in single-parent homes or in homes where grandparents on fixed incomes are trying to raise grandchildren. There are still other parents who simply don’t see it as important and feel it is the school’s responsibility, but the school is only able to do so much. Regardless of the reason, one thing is for certain – the child is not at fault and someone needs to help. So Project Backpack seeks to connect with as many of these children as possible.

In addition to school supplies, Project Backpack has sought other ways to better the lives of the children and their parents. This has included giving away clothing, food, medical screenings, vision screenings, and dental screenings all in one location just before school starts each fall. Project Backpack not only wants to provide for the educational need, but also physical needs, and – just as importantly – to address the spiritual needs of the people we serve. We have found that this is a very practical way to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to the people we come into contact with each year.

Project Backpack began with a question, and each year the questioning continues. Specifically “how can we do a better, more effective job of fulfilling our mission in Garland County?” And every year, I remind myself why we are doing this. I think about the children sitting in their desks on the first day of school with a backpack full of supplies and lots of love. Throughout the school year I see the backpacks that we have provided hanging up on hooks in the hallway of our schools and I know we have made a difference for those students."

CONGRATULATIONS to Pam for being a leader worth following and a true example of our Super EMwoman of the Week!

Discussion Forum

Nominate Someone Today! 1 Reply

Started by Staci Wallace. Last reply by Jo Silvey Sep. 17, 2008.

Super EMwoman of the Week - Tricia Kell (Best Selling Author)

Started by Denise Gerrich Jan. 4, 2009.

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Comment by Jo Silvey on August 8, 2009 at 11:25pm: Congratulations Pam!!!! Great way to give back!!!

Comment by Staci Wallace on July 28, 2009 at 10:45pm: Way to go Pam! We are excited to be a part of Project Backpack this weekend and pray that each of us unite together to take God's love to those who need Him most. We love you and celebrate your greatness!!!!!!

Comment by Rachel Mundy on April 4, 2009 at 3:52pm: YEAH for Dayva!!!!!!!!!!!! So proud of you girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Dana Henson on March 16, 2009 at 1:19pm: Congratulations Dayva; God has great plans for your life. When things happen in our lives that are totally out of our control, we feel broken and confused, we question, we think "if only" I would have done this or that. Don't stay in the past, the past is gone..move into the bright future that God has planned for you. He loves you so much and would never do anything to hurt you. You have a very powerful story to share with someone else that is or will be walking through where you have already been. You are a beautiful girl on the inside and the outside and you are truly loved. May God Bless You Always! Dana Henson

Comment by Jo Silvey on March 1, 2009 at 6:49pm: Congratulations Dayva; We are so proud of you! You will do great and amazing things. Believing God's BEST for you! Jo Silvey

Comment by Gina Mahon on February 26, 2009 at 5:42pm: We are proud of who you are, Dayva, and for what you are going to do. There is no greater gift in this life than the giving of yourself to others. You have a powerful story to share with others.
Blessings, Gina

Comment by Dayva Michele A. on February 26, 2009 at 5:19pm: Thank You!!

I appreciate it.
I started blabbing my boyfriends head off that I was actually nominated for this.
I never NEVER get nominated for stuff. This really made me happy. You honestly have no idea. (: <3 !!!

Comment by Mercy Njiru on February 26, 2009 at 9:19am: Congratulations Dayva.God Bless you.

Comment by Kara Norman on February 26, 2009 at 9:15am: Congrats Dayva!! You deserve to be recognized!! Your mother would be very proud and I know she is smiling in heaven! You will do great and amazing things in your life, you truly have a gift! We at EMGirls are so proud of you!!

Hugs,
Kara
EMGirls Moderator

Comment by Jo Silvey on February 18, 2009 at 12:20pm: Congratulations Susan; You are so amazing in my book! A classy EMpowered EMwoman! And so much more to share with our single mom's. Love you my EMsister!