Piney Grove Baptist Church members in Atlanta, Texas, are now in a third summer of saving local school children and their parents hundreds of dollars by providing new backpacks filled with school supplies.
On Saturday, almost 200 packs were given out. The community effort is a project of the church's Young Adult GIFT Class, with GIFT standing for "growing in faith together."
"Every child needs one and wears it proudly," said class member Erin Coats. "They are especially important now when students have to keep everything together on their person. Since COVID, the students don't get together in large groups."
The project began when the church heard from one of its members who is also a school teacher that backpacks were needed. Sometimes, she noted, the student would have a new backpack but not the other supplies needed.
Members of the church acted immediately and now have a three-week campaign to raise the funds and prepare the backpacks filled with supplies often made up in the particular child's name.
On that first backpack Saturday, all 100 backpacks were given out in the first hour.
"It's incredible how our local congregation has responded. They give the funds from their own pockets, and then we do the rest," class member LaVon Francis said.
The backpacks contain crayons, folders, spiral notebooks, markers, glue, pens, scissors, tissue, sanitizers - all the basics the school requires.
"Then, our church members will pray over the backpacks and a Bible from the Gideons will be added," said class member Carly Powell.
"We know this saves the parents a hundred or several hundred dollars," the members said.
"I have three children in school, and I know it costs several hundred dollars to get their supplies," Francis said.
"We're tickled at the response of the students, community and church. It's a real pleasure to do this," said church member Tommie Finley. "The students are really proud to get one and will feel left out if they do not have one."