LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A mid-Michigan man has spent his life giving out free backpacks to kids in want, ensuring no baby is left behind. Retired pastor Viol Trice says he began the One Pastor One Faculty Backpack Giveaway in 2002, giving freely at the least 750 backpacks to kids within the Lansing space.
Trice says his story began when he was 18 and met an older couple after leaving his house in Arkansas.
Viol Trice. (WLNS)
“I ended up purchasing Lansing Ice and Fuels’ power washing business,” said Trice. “On account of that, I bought an inventory of all of their clients. Frances and Fred was two of the shoppers that I had obtained.”
Then, these two clients all of the sudden was household.
“Little did I know at the time that they didn’t have any children,” said Trice. “So, as a result of that. I ended up coming to know them, checking on them periodically every week. Twice a week sometimes, just to make sure they were alright.”
As time went on, the couple handed away and left Trice with the most important reward he may ever ask for.
“They’d given me an inheritance that I used to be in a position to do a number of the issues that I had struggled in life with, and that was one: Offering backpacks to younger folks,” mentioned Trice.
That one small act of kindness is what propelled Trice to assist kids from underserved communities.
“The Lansing School District allowed me to come into the schools and provide backpacks for them,” said Trice. “Provide mentoring, provide a lot of things most kids need today.”
When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, Trice went all the way down to New Orleans to assist with the restoration effort and returned to Lansing a couple of years later. In that point, Trice says different backpack drives popped up, impressed by his actions. Now, to honor Fred and Frances’ legacies, and Trice’s work, the town of Lansing has issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 25 “Fred and Frances Erb Day.”
“If we give every child the chance to start off the same, then you’re gonna have that ability for every child to perform at the same level,” said Trice. “No one will be left behind.”
Fred and Frances Erb will probably be honored for his or her work on August twenty fifth at Metropolis Corridor. As for Trice, he plans to have fun by organizing one other massive backpack giveaway.
