An 86-year-old Gerogia man took a promise he made to himself when he was 18 years old and, along with a father-son bonding activity, turned it into a lifetime of dedication to children.
Recycling started off as a lesson to his son, Brent Jennings, about healthy money habits. Back in 1985, the Georgia native began collecting and selling paper with his only child, then put their profits into a savings account.
“The first memory I have of my dad is of us recycling,” said Brent Jennings. “We did that until I was about 17.”
Jennings and his wife continued recycling even after his son left the nest. But Jennings had one memory that directed where and how he would use his recycling money.
Brent Jennings described how he was told his father decided to become involved with the charity.
"He went with a member of his church and when they got ready to leave, three little boys grabbed his legs and asked him if he would be their daddy," he said. "He said right there, 'I'm going to do what I can as long as I can for the Georgia Baptist Children's Homes.'"
You can watch a news special from four years ago where the local news station gave Mr. Jennings $500 for his tireless recycling for charity work. In it he explains his connection to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home & Family Services. I’m not crying. You’re crying!