“For a number of years the local group (mainly through the efforts of the women) contributed more to the financial support of the Home than all other sources combined. They not alone gave money in a regular manner, but also in times of special need. In addition they provided clothing for the children before this practice was generally taken up by other churches in the Synod of Texas. The Sunday school gave a monthly offering to the Home for many years; the men provided assistance in many ways; the women gave a most generous offering each year. In 1929 Pat Hooks and Will Hooks gave the sum of $10,000 for the building of the school structure. In recent years individuals of the church have given financially to different needs of the Home.” (From “History of the First Presbyterian Church of Itasca, Texas,” by Wilson Keenan)
At one time, there was mention of moving the home to Venus, Texas. The history book states that the congregation at Itasca protested that move and any subsequent move.

As the town of Itasca has struggled the past few years, so has the church, and we do not give financially to the home like our early ancestors did. Relations have even been somewhat strained at times. But if you ask people in our church, most of them will say that the Presbyterian Children’s Home is the best thing about our church. We have our mission field right here, right in our community and in our church building. We have taught the children in Sunday school, we have helped them to lead worship services, we have directed them in choirs, we have had fun times with them, and we have cried with them during difficult times.

However, as much as we hope and pray that we have shown Christ’s love to them, there have been more times than we can count when God has reached out to us through these young people. Many of God’s children have come and gone in these forty-five or more years, but each one has touched us in some way. They are a great blessing to our church from God!

That is why I was so excited to be able to help them through this Offering. Our session immediately and unanimously approved our portion of the Offering going to the Presbyterian Children’s Home and Service Agency.

We thank everyone else who chose to give their portion to this worthwhile cause. I can personally assure you that your gifts DO make a difference in the lives of these children! Most of them just desperately need to see and feel God’s love. When we feed them, clothe them, listen to them, talk to them, hug them, we do just that for them—we show them how God feels about them.

Diane Barnes
First Presbyterian Church
Itasca, TX
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