Mt. Wade Senior Men Missionary Society recently presented a $1,100 check to Fannie L. Mullins Alternative School.

President Andrew Spiller said their goal is to select a different school in the district every year. Last year, Mamie Martin received their donation.

“We know they have a budget and any little bit extra can go a mile further,” Spiller said. “This is a good opportunity for them to use the funds to help the students with projects.”

Deputy School Superintendent Rob Henderson is a member of Mt. Wade Missionary Baptist Church. He said he loves seeing the men he grew up under give back. 

“This just shows how involved they are in the community and how much they care,” Henderson said. “We’re ecstatic about it. We’re glad that this organization has decided to give to Mullins and we’ll support them any way we can.”

The organization started giving donations last year after Spiller had a conversation with his daughter, Andrea Jones. Jones is a Byram schoolteacher who asked him what he was doing for the local students in his community.

Although the men’s missionary society was already very active in the community, Spiller decided he could do more for the students with the organization’s help.

“I got it approved by the members of this organization to cooperate with me to do it,” Spiller said. “They thought it was a fantastic idea and we got started and have been very successful.”

The missionary society hosts TV raffle fundraisers to raise money for their school donations. Tickets are sold in the community for $2 and they also give a $25 gift card to the second place winner.

Spiller said it’s a fun way to get the community involved, and all of their proceeds go towards the donation.

La’Renda Harrison, director of Alternative Services at Mullins, said she is grateful to have the donation as additional funds for the school’s GED program and alternative setting.

“The wonderful thing about these gentlemen is not only are they the heroes of my childhood, who served in our church and provided strong foundations to so many youth who passed through Mt. Wade Church on to their destinies, but they are still serving in our community and giving back.  I believe these men embody Hebrews 6:10 in their service,” Harrison said.

In the New International Version of the Bible, the Hebrews passage reads, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”