Meet Me at the Court donates produce to seniors
Local youth delivered baskets full of love Saturday during a mission project sponsored by the mentoring organization Meet Me at the Court.
Meet Me at the Court, or MMC, is “designed to encourage youth and build self esteem,” according to its Facebook page. The organization is sponsored by several community members including Veronica Bailey, who also does community service projects in memory of her late sister, Sharion Bailey Whitlock.
While it started at the basketball court in El Dorado’s St. Louis neighborhood, the organization is open to all area youth in grades K-12. The organization’s unique approach puts mentees in the forefront while sponsors encourage them to give back to the community, she said.
“The main thing I want them to get out of it is getting out and helping others … So I’m trying to learn my youth not only know what the word ‘mission’ is, but also know what the word ‘mission’ means and what it stands for,” Bailey said. “(We) put it into practice and let them do it … If you let them get in and do this themselves, they really learn.”
The “love basket” project is one of many monthly mission projects, which also includes Mission & Magazines, an annual school supply giveaway, Carnival of Love and Spring Clean Up. MMC tries to do two mission projects per month, Bailey said.
“The magazines, that’s just our effort to go into the nursing homes. I try to take them to different areas to do their mission to see that you don’t have to do mission in one spot or one area of people,” Bailey said.
The baskets were uniquely decorated and filled with fresh vegetables at the First Baptist Church Life Center and then personally delivered to seniors Saturday evening.
“Some of the produce is donated by some of my friends who have gardens (and) farms,” she said. “Some of the vegetables, me and my family purchased them and donated them.”
Next month, youth will deliver love baskets containing fresh fruit and fruit juices, she said. The baskets will be available to the public and can be requested by calling Bailey or other MMC sponsors by 9 a.m. Sept. 8.
“All I want to know is your name and address so my youth can and I will know where to deliver your love basket to … It’s just open to the community,” she said.
MMC will meet and assemble
love baskets at 2 p.m. Sept. 9 in the First Baptist Church Life Center. The organization meets every other Saturday and a meal is provided at the end of each meeting. For more information about MMC or how to volunteer,
contact Bailey at 870-310-0391 or visit the organization’s Facebook page.