Over the last few weeks, several local churches have banded together for the Back2School program, collecting hundreds of backpacks, filling them with supplies, and then distributing them to more than 2,000 children at a multisite event that occurred on August 2-3.
The effort included a ‘pack the bus’ event, and according to Stevie Byrd, a volunteer, people were “very generous.”
Michael Harrison, pastor of Community Fellowship, helps lead the program that he started in 2007, a year after founding the church.
“The first year we served 75 kids with school supplies. The next year, we added backpacks and served 500,” Harrison said.
The following year, shoes were added to the offerings, and registration increased to include 1,000 youngsters, which prompted the addition of satellite locations.
“The largest we’ve ever been is 18 locations in five different states. This year we are at 10 locations in 10 different states,” he said.
Project leader Katie Whitlow said that “one of my favorite things about back to school is it’s a partnership between different denominations.” She said that she felt like everyone “was united for one purpose, and that’s Jesus.”
The backpacks were filled and transported during a large-scale Fill the Backpacks charity event. Tracie Hinchcliff, the executive director of Grace Network, was among the volunteers at the event, and led the city cluster of churches. “It made sense for all our churches to go in together.”
For parents whose schedules wouldn’t allow them to pick up backpacks, Grace Network stepped into help. “Grace Network brings the backpacks back to Grace Network and contacts the families to have them pick up there,” said Hinchcliff.
She explained that “everybody gets a certain number of extra backpacks and supplies.” Although there weren’t extra shoes, there are several clothing closets that parents can check, including the First United Methodist Church and Community Fellowship.
“We have resource sheets at Grace Network, so they can come, and we can give them a resource sheet,” Hinchliff said.
Martinsville Mayor LC Jones also stopped by the event to help prepare the backpacks.
“To me, community is all about helping each other, giving back, and celebrating each other,” Jones said, adding that he believes helping others “fulfills you as an individual.”
The group also helped to pack backpacks for out-of-town sites/guests, including Jacob Brock, a volunteer from South Carolina.
“We are very, very excited to have 375 sign-ups. It’s the first time,” Brock said, and he loved to see “the community come together.”
Children who participated in the event had their feet washed when arriving to pick up the school supplies.
“We tell them a story about a man from Africa” who received a pair of shoes and learned “about Jesus,” Harrison said. “We tell his story about how he heard about Christ.”
Haircuts, additional clothing, and fun activities for youngsters also were offered at some sites, Harrison said.
Churches involved in the drive included Abundant Life, Community Fellowship, Uptown, Stanleytown Amazing Grace Baptist, Fairway Baptist, Marble Hill Church of God, First Baptist – Ridgeway, Wellford Baptist, Crossroads Baptist, and Providence Baptist. The program has been going on for 18 years and has now served over 39,000 children.
