Churches supply students
Three churches host events Saturday where free school supplies and meals, and, in one case, free haircuts, are provided for kids.
Each year for a decade, members of Springfield Baptist Church have pooled donations together to purchase school supplies, and on Saturday, they got to see those items land in the hands of kids once again.
The church’s Community Day is all about giving and not receiving, said the Rev. Bryant Steans.
“We want to just show the love of Christ to the community,” he said.
By the halfway point of the three-hour event in a parking lot across from the church at 113 Smith St., over 50 of the 100 backpacks, which were stuffed with notebooks, pencils, folders and lined paper, had been handed out. Free hot dogs with chips and drinks were also provided for those who stopped by.
Steans said the event brings church members together under a common cause. Buying school supplies can be a challenge for economically disadvantaged families, he added, and the Community Day makes sure at
least some of the kids out there in need have the basics for starting the school year.
Shanetria Adams, who brought her three boys and one daughter to the event, said what the church members do is well appreciated.
The Callahan Street Church of Christ and Lindale United Methodist Church held similar events Saturday.
Ron Whittington, a deacon at the Church of Christ, said the church purchased 200 backpacks with school supplies this
year, up from 100 last year, to pass out to kids.
The church also had four people providing free haircuts to about 25 boys ages 6 to 13, and it served up free food, as it has done for the last several years, said church member Ronald Frieson. He estimated there were about 300 people in attendance, including kids and their families.
“The atmosphere was just glorious,” Frieson said, adding that it was all done to honor Christ. “I’m sure he’s smiling.”
The first impression can often be the last impression, Whittington said, and a haircut can boost a kid’s self-esteem and have them looking nice for the first day of school.
An orientation about the church and the sharing of biblical literature accompanies the giveaways, and contact information is shared to set up a relationship that may lead to those attending becoming members of the church, Whittington said.
Lindale United Methodist also gave away free school supplies, but additionally provided clothes for both children and adults.