Try This: 9 Ways to Support Schools, Students, Parents and Teachers

When summer winds down, families get ready for another school year. For many, stocking up on new school supplies and clothing isn’t easy—or even possible. Let parents and kids alike know you’re there to support them—not only as that first day approaches, but all year long.

1. Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, hosted a three-day back-to-school carnival that included games, school-supply giveaways and live music. On Sunday, the church encouraged parents and kids alike to wear their school colors.

2. Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Salisbury, North Carolina (GMBC-Online.org), gave away donated shoes, clothing and underwear, along with backpacks stuffed with school supplies to community children.

3. Wesleyan at Redemption Hill Church in Macon, Georgia, threw a Back-to-School Splash Bash. Kids had fun playing on an inflatable waterslide and then enjoyed free hot dogs and hamburgers.

4. Keefeton Free Will Baptist Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma, provided free back-to-school haircuts and eye exams, along with a barbecue dinner and gospel concert.

5. Princeton United Pentecostal Church in Princeton, Illinois, hosted a 30-minute back-to-school prayer service on a Monday evening for its community.

6. Purchase $5 gift cards to the nearest coffee shop. Pass out to your schools’ teachers and administration.

7. Purchase coffee and doughnuts and deliver them to the school’s office on one of the first few days of class.

8. Talk to your local coffee shop and start a tab. Then let area schools know about it. During the first week of school, if a teacher provides identification, coffee’s on your church.

9. Take a six-hour workshop through the National Church Adopt-A-School and learn the building blocks for offering social services to urban youth and their families, along with the process for adopting public schools and creating programs such as school-based mentoring. To sign up or learn more, visit ChurchAdoptASchool.org.

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