NATHAN'S LEGACY PART II

Ellisville, Mississippi

Andy and Lori Key from the Nathan's Legacy Foundation stop at Jones County Junior College to give children more than just candy on Halloween. The Keys gave the children an interactive lesson about school bus safety.

The Keys created a homemade school bus from fabric, PVC pipe, and lights to use as an instructional tool for teaching children about school bus safety. According to Lori Key, the activity helps children understand that "people who drive now should stop when the stop sign is out on the school bus."

The line of children waiting to play the game simulates cars stopping for the school bus as students embark and disembark. The children can only pass the bus to get a prize when they've thrown a ball and completely knocked the stop sign in. Prizes for the event were donated from Wal-Mart in Meridian, MS.

Also, the Keys and other members of the Nathan's Legacy Foundation handed out instructional information to parents and reminded children who ride the school bus of safety rules.

Parents like Shaquita Jones and Kristy Turner hope that the foundation will continue to bring events like this one to children because it's not only informative, but it brings the community together for a great cause - to help another Nathan survive.

NATHAN'S LEGACY PART I

Jones County, MS

On December 11, 2009, a motorist ignored the flashing lights and extended arm of the stop sign on a school bus and killed 5-year-old Nathan Key as he crossed the street to go home.

After Nathan's death, his parents Andy and Lori Key vowed to prevent this from happening to another child. The Keys' first step was to stiffen the penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus. Senate Bill 2472, also known as Nathan's Law, passed on July 1, 2011.

The Keys also started the Nathan's Legacy Foundation, Inc. to keep Nathan's legacy alive. The non-profit organization is the National Association To Help Another Nathan Survive.

Nathan's Legacy Foundation members travel throughout the state to spread school bus safety awareness to children. Along with educating students during school visits, the Keys work with Mississippi's School Bus Safety Task Force to ensure that motorists, bus drivers, and students exercise caution around school buses. Initially, the School Bus Safety Task Force was established to last only one year, but under an executive order from Gov. Phil Bryant, the task force will remain.

The Keys will continue to work with the Nathan's Legacy Foundation and organizations like Mississippi's School Bus Safety Task Force to keep children safe.

EMPTY BOWLS

- Hattiesburg, MS

As of 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 14.9 percent of the nation is food insecure or regularly hungry. Mississippi and Arkansas have the highest rate of food insecurity with a 19.2 percent hunger rate. 

In an attempt to heighten awareness of hunger issues in the state of Mississippi, Main Street Books employees in downtown Hattiesburg host an Empty Bowls fundraiser. Employees first collected over 300 handcrafted and painted bowls from local artists like Elizabeth Huffmaster. Then, the employees sold the bowls for 20 dollars each. 

On opening night of the fundraiser, participants who purchased bowls received a warm bowl of soup. The business also accepted 500 dollars worth of food from Big Star Supermarket to donate to the food pantry. All proceeds and donations from the fundraiser go to the Edward Street Fellowship Center in Hattiesburg.  

The fundraiser, according to Carolyn Critz, is not only only about raising money and collecting donations for the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, but it is also about bringing awareness for the many starving families that are in the state. 

These bowls are not just carefully crafted pieces of art; for those who purchase them, they are a daily reminder that there are families who need food. 

Employees have yet to sell all of the bowls, but they are excited to continue selling them to help combat hunger issues in the state. 

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