[ARTICLE_IMAGE_THUMB]In fall 2003, a group of youth and adults from Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Community in Spring, Texas volunteered to create a service opportunity for the National Catholic Youth Conference. Little did they know where that opportunity would take them!

The organizers noticed a great need for a program that reaches out to the homeless panhandlers who frequent intersections in suburban Houston. After much research, discussion, and preparation, a unique new homeless ministry called “The Hope Bag Project” was born.

What is a Hope Bag? A Hope Bag is a bag containing a meal of non-perishable pop-top cans of meat, fruit and vegetables, plastic ware, water, maps to local shelters, a short caring handwritten note, and a pre-stamped prayer request postcard that can be mailed back to the parish. The meals are given to parishioners to carry in their cars so that when they encounter a panhandler, they can give them the Hope Bag.

At NCYC 2003, attendees made over 1,000 Hope Bag meals and 99 organizations from all over the country signed on to make Hope Bags in their own communities. And,the youth and adults of Christ the Good Shepherd continue to spread hope in Houston through the efforts of many tireless volunteers like the Junior High Youth Group member here who is writing messages of hope to include in the Hope Bags.

The Hope Bag Project is a terrific example of what youth and adults together can do to bring the Gospel to life. The project has applied to become an official non-profit organization, and youth groups and churches can sign up to make Hope Bags in their communities by visiting: www.hopebags.com