Three Precious Miracles holds back-to-school backpack drive

July 15, 2016

Brittany Burnette

Gila River Indian News

Over 70 excited children went home with new backpacks, shoes, school supplies, and hygiene products thanks to Three Precious Miracles, which held a back-to-school drive on July 6.

The drive was for children in need of school supplies. But it wasn’t just backpacks and school supplies, the drive included a pair of new shoes, and a small haircut raffle for 20 kids, which was provided by donors. Parents and guardians signed up their children for this event, while volunteers assisted the children in choosing backpacks and shoes.

Three Precious Miracles is a non-profit organization that strives to provide Native youth in need with supplies for home and school. The organization also helps foster parents by giving them care packages with items such as baby formula, diapers, clothes and hygiene products for children arriving to a new home. Elisia Manuel, who founded the organization, is a foster mother and a full-time adoptive mother of six children. Manuel started the organization in her home less than two years ago with a determination to help children and new foster parents in need. With help from her family, friends, volunteers and generous donors, the growing organization now has a new office in Sacaton.

Manuel and volunteers shared stories of how parents and grandparents struggle to give children things they need and how Three Precious Miracles helps in those situations.

Trish Pancott-Brewer, a committed volunteer for TPM, said, “One little girl came in and she didn’t even have shoes...it makes us happy to know that we could help them.”

Parents also say this organization has made a positive impact on the community. Janel Lewis, said, “I did need help a little bit because of my niece. I take care of her. So I struggle from time-to-time, but this helps a lot, it does a lot for us.”

Manuel hopes to schedule more giveaways in the near future to help more families in need. She also welcomes Community members’ support by donating any extra items like school supplies, clothes, toys, and household items to their office next to the Sacaton Post Office.

For more information contact the TPM office at (520) 562-1078 or visit www.threepreciousmiracles.com.