Andrew Giancola of Tarpon Springs, Fla., received scholarships from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in 2007 and 2008. This year, when his sister Lindsey was preparing to go to college, she applied also. However, she received a different response. Lack of funding prevented Lindsey from getting a scholarship.
This year the Office of Loans and Scholarships had far more qualified students apply and far fewer funds available. Most students and parents would be disappointed, shrug and move on. Marti Giancola, mother of Andrew and Lindsey, decided to do something about the funding issue. When her congregation—First United Methodist Church, Tarpon Springs—held a back-to-school event, Marti coordinated a bake sale and raised $111 to donate to the scholarships fund. She challenged other churches to follow her lead.
“The back-to-school outreach,” Marti reported, “gives free backpacks with supplies as well as free haircuts, school physicals and lots of fun things for kids to do. While many participants are indigent, we were still able to raise money through donations.  It was very easy to get people to bake [for] this cause. In the future, I may organize it on another day such as ‘Mission Sunday’ when it can be available to more of the church population. 

“I realize the money is a drop in the bucket,” she continued, “but I thought if 100 churches held a bake sale for scholarships and made $100, a little could really add up. We called our booth ‘Operation Education,’ a takeoff of the event name ‘Operation Backpack.’ 

“I hope this can be seed money,” Marti said. “Our church students have benefited from the scholarships. It is a tiny token of our gratefulness. I have thought how nice it would be if those who received funds could do something to give back.”

--Adapted from Loans and Scholarships e-news, November 2009