Southlake Pastor Leon Reyes, who went voluntarily homeless in November 2012 (more info at haveyouseenleon.com), enlists Southlake and the surrounding communities to help him collect 400 care bags for the Dallas homeless to be distributed at a sunrise Easter service in downtown Dallas on April 20. 

"The whole reason I went homeless last year was to better identify with those who are less fortunate," says Reyes. "I really want to show the world that affluent communities such as Southlake do have a heart to help the homeless, and provide our suburban communities with opportunities to do so."

Pastor Leon's church startup, Fit Church, though a very small startup, is leading this community-wide initiative to bring 400 care bags to the homeless on Easter Sunday, and so far, the church has gotten almost halfway to their goal. 

"What will be especially moving this Easter is that our church will be going to downtown Dallas on Easter Sunday to lead the 400 homeless people, and then we will get to hand out the bags directly to the people," says Reyes. "I think it will be a fantastic opportunity for our community to do something out of the ordinary this Easter and really make a difference."

Pastor Leon and the rest of his church community invite all of Southlake and beyond to participate in this initiative by either donating financially (cost per bag is close to $10, and 100% of the donations go directly toward the care bags), or by donating completed bags. 

"We are encouraging people to get their families involved in this, and it is really my goal to get more bag donations than monetary donations, so that our community can be involved in the blessing of really making a difference this Easter."

If you would like to participate in this initiative, here is the list of items, all to be placed into a gallon sized ziplock bag (decorated with messages and pictures, if desired), and dropped in the dropbox located at 620 Truelove Trail, Southlake:

• Travel sized shampoo & conditioner
• 1 comb
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Individual kleenex package
• Small hand sanitizer
• Travel sized deodorant
• Mini first aid kit 
• Soap bar
• Small hand/body lotion
• 1 pair socks (which Reyes found out is a huge need of homeless people!)
• Easter grass (to make it festive)
• 2 colored plastic Easter eggs with candy

* If you especially want to get you family involved in helping out this Easter, then join Pastor Leon and Fit Church in worship among the Dallas homeless on Easter Sunday, 7 a.m. at 1727 Corsicana Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

For more complete information and contact numbers, visit www.myfitchurch.com/easter.