Q&A: Back-to-School Events, 2022 edition
What happens to all our Back-to-School supplies once they leave CSM?
We distribute Back-to-School supplies to various church partners across the metro area of Birmingham. These churches hold different Back to School events. They take the resources, and their members decide how they want to package them and give them out in the community.
What churches or organizations participated in the 2022 distribution? What happened at their events?
Redeemer Community Church held an event called “Pack and Play” for Avondale Elementary School. The children from the church packed over 200 bags of school supplies to be given to students and made 50 cards to give to the teachers. Eighty additional bags were given to the guidance counselor’s office to distribute throughout the year as needed. Before the items were packed into bags, the Redeemer kids were taught about loving their neighbors, and everyone prayed over the bags for the students and families who would receive them.
Bethel Baptist Church held an event called “Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway” to serve students at Tuggle Elementary School. They set up a Back-to-School market and allowed teachers to “shop” the market and gather what they needed from the resources distributed to them from CSM. They brought catered food boxes from Newk’s to feed the teachers. During the luncheon, they prayed with the teachers and shared the Gospel. They served 200 families.
First Missionary Baptist Church of Moody held an event called “Youth Back-to-School Outreach” to service youth in Moody and the surrounding areas. This event began as a youth-led worship service with songs, prayer, and Scripture. Then, the pastor gave a youth-based message to the families. After worship, the families moved into the Fellowship Hall, where youth and parents selected items they needed for school. The church gave each family a $35 Walmart gift card to further aid families. After the giveaway, the church joined other area churches for a kickball tournament, where they continued to share Christ with the community.
The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. organization served 3,000 families at their 27th Annual Back-to-School drive-thru Rally. They gave out 1,000 backpacks with a supply kit of standard school supplies, hand sanitizer, masks, and a statement of faith. They gave away 1,000 lunch bags with snacks in them. The organization also added to what they received from CSM with Chromebooks and 27 $25 gas cards to ensure parents had gas for school.
The Women’s Initiative of the City of Birmingham, Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity department held an event at Lawson State Community College called “Supporting her Period Initiative.” Lawson State had an open house for dorm residents. Young ladies received feminine care products, COVID19 masks, and hand sanitizer. Many of these women represent the underserved or first-generation college students.
Did any other churches or organizations participate?
- Mt Hebron Baptist Church
- Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist
- Arise Birmingham Church
- Sixteenth Street Baptist Church
- C2 Church
- Spirit of Luke “A Promise to Help”
- Urban Hope Community Church
How many families were served overall?
Four thousand one hundred sixty-seven (4,167) families were counted. There were also families served that were not counted and churches that we did not hear back from regarding their Back-to-School events.
