Want to Make a Difference? Here’s How to Get Involved with Love the 812 Service Organization

We are in our third full week of school and though going back is a huge bummer, there's a silver lining - Friday night lights! That's right, high school football season is upon us. And, each year, the Castle High School football team chooses an organization to give back to at their first football game. On August 30, 2019, proceeds will go to the local service organization Love the 812.

According to their website, Love the 812, the outreach program of The Refuge Christian Church in Chandler helps the broken and hurting by meeting basic needs and supports local communities by partnering with local non-profits who are doing good. Currently, Love the 812 provides bags of food for kids at six Warrick County schools who don't have enough to eat on the weekends through their Backpack Buddies program. They are also helping build a Habitat House in Chandler, and provide meals for those in the community. Throughout the year, the organization collects money for their Swiping Christmas outreach. A video from last year's event went viral when the group swarmed the East Side Walmart and paid for unsuspecting customers' Christmas items. Check out the video below!

"I think people are important, and it's all of our jobs to make every single one of them feel loved. We decided to start by loving the people where we live," said Pastor Brian DeTalente of The Refuge. The organization is excited about the opportunities that a giveback like this can bring in and is hoping to expand their operation in a new building.

The game against New Albany starts at 7 PM but volunteers will be in the stadium starting at 6 PM to sell t-shirts and bracelets. The bracelets are $3.50 each and provide one weekend's worth of food for a Warrick Co. student.

Can't make it to the game but want to help out? Visit Love the 812 on Facebook for service opportunities or donate by clicking here and choosing LOVE THE 812 or SWIPING CHRISTMAS.