The News Tribune
A new school year can bring both anticipation and anxiety.
While students may be excited to reconnect with their peers, parents may fret about affordability of school supplies.
A number of area church congregations have stepped forward to ease that burden.
Examples include:
• Seven area churches joined Saturday to sponsor a Back 2 School Jam that combined activities with distributing backpacks with school supplies to registered families.
The event previously hosted by Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church and Second Christian Church was expanded and joined this year by Community Christian Church, One in Christ Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Wesley United Methodist Church and Solid Rock Baptist Church, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital City.
• Also Saturday, First Assembly of God Church distributed 200 backpacks on a first-come, first-served basis. The savings for local families was estimated at $4,000.
• Later this week, the Redeem Project of Calvary Baptist Church at the corner of Hough and Lincoln streets will distribute supply-filled backpacks to registered families.
Spiritual sustenance is a priority for churches, but the path to spirituality may be blocked when people are preoccupied with meeting basic needs.
We commend the church officials and volunteers for understanding and appreciating that filling practical needs opens a door to spirituality.
Their contribution to both the material and spiritual well-being of our community is exemplary.