“This single act of providing every student with a bag of food on Fridays was a God-send in more ways than one. We did not have to single out a student or family. Our students and parents may be poor, but they are proud. (This) act of kindness helped eliminate the haves and have-nots.”

If the hallmarks of a servant leader are stewardship, building community, and thinking of others above self, then Michael Foster is a servant leader, and James Weldon Johnson Elementary School in New Orleans is profoundly thankful that he is.

With the support of his employer, Target, Michael coordinates days of service at the school, proactively helps the school seek out grants, maintains frequent contact with the school volunteer coordinator, and last year ensured that every student received a holiday gift during the Christmas season. According to Principal Wanda Brooks,

“We don’t even get a chance to call him anymore. He calls us. He has my office staff eating out of the palm of his hands, and he’s come to know some of the students personally.”

When Principal Brooks mentioned that some of the students did not eat between when school let out on Fridays and resumed on Mondays, Michael and several other Target employees came with a bag of food for every student and talked to her about a Target program that sends students home each Friday with a bag of food. “You can’t imagine what that means to a school like James Weldon Johnson,” said Principal Brooks. “Ninety-eight percent of our students are on Free or Reduced lunch.”

Sometimes school support is most needed beyond the classroom, and Michael understands that well.