‘Donut Worry’: Back-to-School Can Be Sweet
Kara SchofieldFeatured Photo: Primary presidency serving in the Prosper 2nd Ward congregation (left to right): Summer Christensen, President; Michele Steed, Primary Second Counselor; Alicia Rothe, Primary First Counselor; and Mindy Linderman, Primary Secretary. Photo by Kadi Heath.
Prosper, Texas, kids were treated to sweets and good wishes for the coming school year by their leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 10, 2020.
Finding ways to reach out to the children under their care during the pandemic—when church services are limited and social distancing the norm—is a priority to the four women who comprise the Prosper leadership of the children’s organization called “Primary” of The Church of Jesus Christ.
“We really do miss the kids,” said Mindy Linderman, secretary, and sometime delivery driver. “Getting to see their smiling faces was so much fun! Many of them were excited to tell us what they have been up to, if they were having a birthday soon, or that they were excited to go back to school.”
A friendly honk of the horn signaled the arrival of the Treat Truck in neighborhoods, undoubtedly eliciting feelings of ice-cream-nostalgia for the parents as they watched the joy and excitement on their children’s faces. Yvette Kokialares, a mother of three, laughs, “We absolutely loved the donut truck… [My kids] literally waited by the window the entire time until they heard the fun music and ran outside.”
Lindsey Scott, who also has three children in the Primary organization, shares how the timing of the event was perfect “right before school started. I could sense some anxiety about going back to school and uncertainty about what it would be like with social distancing, etc. The Primary leaders came around the corner with high energy and big smiles.” She appreciated their sacrifice of time “to show that they were thinking of my kids. They still talk about how awesome it was!”
The Primary children received similar treatment in May when the Treat Truck delivered ice cream bars to kick off the summer. The women have also provided goodies to the teachers and primary workers and encouraged them to keep in touch with the individual children in their classes.
The goal is to “keep kids connected to the Primary and the church,” Linderman explains. And it has made an impact.
“I was a little bit nervous about going back to school after so long,” said McKenna, 11, “and seeing my leaders gave me comfort.” Wyatt, 8, added, “It made me feel so good to know that my leaders were thinking of me.” Kokialares shared, “It seriously made their first day of school so much more special.”
If pandemic restrictions continue, Linderman and her treat-bearing cohorts, Summer Christensen, Alicia Rothe, and Michele Steed—who comprise the Primary presidency of the Prosper 2nd Ward—have additional ideas for deliveries in the works, so stay tuned!
Primary is the Sunday School organization for children ages 18 months to 11 years in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
All photos for this article were by Kadi Heath.
