Going back to school can be a stressful time for many families. Between backpacks, school supplies, clothes, and shoes that fit, it can break the family budget. Trust me. I know. We have four kids, and sometimes it can be tough making sure they have everything they need to start the school year.
As a church, we recognized a few years ago that many families in our community could use some help with backpacks and school supplies. Over the past couple of years, we have hosted a backpack giveaway at our church. We handed out backpacks filled with school supplies, offered food, and provided inflatables to add to the fun.
This year, I am excited about a unique opportunity. During the past school year, we developed a special relationship with Murrell Taylor Elementary School. As I talked with the principal, Ms. Haywood, late this Spring, we decided to give away backpacks at their school instead of at the church. I will spare you all the reasons why this is better, but I am thrilled that we are moving out into our community and not hosting this at our church.
The backpack giveaway will be at Murrell Taylor Elementary School on August 13th, from 4-6pm. This will be in conjunction with the school's open house. You can help in several different ways. One way you can help is to volunteer to help us that night. We will need help setting up, serving food, monitoring inflatables, handing out backpacks, and cleaning up when the evening is over. You can also help by supplying some backpacks. Obviously, it will take an entire church effort to collect the number of backpacks we need. Ms. Haywood told me their enrollment will be 500 kids. In the past couple of years, we have collected between 275 and 300 backpacks. We will need to step up our game this year, but I want to present a new way we can collect more backpacks.
Our team has come up with two different ways you can supply a backpack. The first will be to purchase a backpack and fill it with the supplies needed. This is the way we have done it in the past. The estimated cost for this option will be $22. The good news is that someone on our team had a brilliant idea of ordering backpacks and supplies in bulk to see if it would be cheaper. If we order backpacks and the supplies in bulk, then the cost will be $11 per backpack. The second way you can supply a backpack is to donate $11/backpack. We have envelopes at the church you can place your money in for backpacks (for example you could donate $55 for 5 backpacks). The important thing is that we have to order all the backpacks and supplies early in order to get them before August 13. If you choose the second option, we will need your donation by July 24. Our goal is 500 backpacks. If we collected 300 last year and the cost has been reduced, we should have no problem achieving this goal.
I am thrilled about this opportunity God has given us. I hope you will pray about how God wants you to help. I also hope you will pray for the night we give away the backpacks. This is an opportunity for us to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community.
In Christ,
Mark Smith
