On Saturday, Oct. 7, Jacob’s Place collaborated with Sonic to run a fundraising carhop in benefit of Jacob’s Place. Men’s social club Knights, women’s social club Pi Theta Phi (PTP) and other students were there to support and help run the event.
Jacob’s Place is a nonprofit organization that helps serve the homeless families of White County. Since its opening in 2008, Jacob’s Place has helped stabilize families financially and spiritually and has served 183 families, 244 kids, 145 women and 37 men.
Jacob’s Place has teamed up with Sonic for over five years in raising money. Jacob’s Place program director Melanie Kiihnl says that Sonic is a company that is very generous in the Searcy community.
“Sonic has always been a very charitable company,” Kiihnl said. “They provide opportunities to give back to so many of our schools, youth programs and other nonprofits.” Kiihnl also says that the White County community responds well to the events, and that the carhops raise roughly $3500 every year. Jacob’s Place has relations to alumni and social club members and sponsors, and through these relations, they find students who are willing to help.
“We are always very blessed that social clubs, sports teams and others help out when they can,” Kiihln said.
Senior and service officer of PTP Emily Sheffield encouraged more members to join in the carhop because she saw it as an opportunity serve the community.
“I jumped at this opportunity because it is a simple way to help out a community that needs it,” Sheffield said. “It is great to know that what you are doing is exactly what someone else needs at that moment.”
Senior and president of Knights social club Stephen Hoffmann also saw the carhop as a chance to use the platform to think about the people around us.
“I thought that the fundraiser for Jacob’s Place was a good cause,” Hoffmann said. “We had guys show up, and that is all that we needed to help out.”
Jacob’s Place uses Philippians 2:4 as a verse that emulates their mission as a homeless outreach program. It reads, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.”
“It is very important for all of White County to be a true community of mission,” Kiihnl said. “And it is important to look into all the nonprofits and see where you feel God is leading you to serve so that he can be seen by those in need.”
