Children should not have to live in fear

Children should not have to live in fear. Do you agree with this statement? Brant Peto did. Enough to do something unexpected and wonderful! Here’s his story:

Last December, Vickie stopped in to let her son, Brant, know that she and her granddaughter were getting ready to leave for the Song For Israel Chanukah party. Brant (age 31) had been struggling with brain cancer for over a year and a caretaker took over for his mother, allowing Vickie to attend the party.

When Vickie returned home, Brant wanted to know more about Song For Israel and what their charity was all about. She explained that their vision was “to proclaim God’s eternal plan for Israel,” and that one of the things they do is collect funds to provide bomb shelters for schools in Israel.  He asked, “Why would schools need bomb shelters?” She explained that those living near the Gaza border experienced rockets coming from Gaza regularly and shelters were needed for the children. Brant hadn’t realized this and said, “Kids should not be living in fear.”  Vickie asked Deby Brown, Director of Song For Israel (SFI), to come and share more about the bomb shelter program with Brant.

Brant’s brain cancer had progressed and he was paralyzed. Deby went to visit,  gave him a presentation and showed Brant pictures of the schools where SFI had already provided shelters. She explained the need for so many more. He was very excited to learn about the shelters and wanted to help.

Brant was an entrepreneurial genius and had started up several successful companies at a young age. During the visit, Brant indicated his desire to donate not one, but TWO bomb shelters for two different elementary schools.

The shelters were placed at Beit HaGadi School and Ma'agalim School by Operation Lifeshield. Brant passed away the week that the shelters were installed but his gift will continue to save lives in Israel.

Song For Israel participants wanted to honor Brant and provided Vickie with a beautiful memorial garden in Brant’s honor. Deby’s father passed away a month after Brant died and while at the mortuary, Deby was looking for a plaque for Brant’s memorial garden. The associate at the White Emerson Mortuary, Paul White, heard the story about Brant’s donation for bomb shelters in Israel and felt the meeting was a divine appointment! A few weeks later, he and his wife donated a beautiful plaque for the memorial garden.

More bomb shelters are needed to save lives in Israel! As Brant said, “Kids should not be living in fear.”

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