September 19, 2024
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Six hundred backpacks, filled with school supplies. That was the goal that Pastor Al Mead set for the congregation at New Hope Baptist Church’s North Campus in Fayetteville and South Campus in Senoia.
The backpacks would be distributed to students at North Fayette Elementary School, less than three miles from the North Campus, at a church-sponsored “Back to School Bash” for kids and their families.
Mead came up with the 600 number after speaking with Jazmine Smith, president of the North Fayette Elementary PTO and a member at New Hope. She contacted Mead to explore ways that the church could partner with the school. Some years past, the church has helped install a playground at the school but they had not partnered recently.
Smith and Mead developed a plan to provide students with filled backpacks. Not wanting any child to be left out, they hoped for one backpack for each student, hence the need for 600.
The school principal, David McBride, enthusiastically agreed to the idea. North Fayette is a Title 1 school that receives federal funding to support students from low-income families.
Mead said the church wanted to meet the students at their point of need and provide them the tools to succeed academically. The initiative was named “Backpacks of Hope,” and was introduced to church members at services and via social media.
Mead recruited Jennifer Wallace, the Kids Ministry Coordinator at the church, to organize the gathering, sorting, and packing of supplies. “Pastor Al told me what he wanted during a meeting,” Wallace recalled, “and I said, ‘Let’s do it!’”
A wish list was created at an online retailer, and Wallace built a team of 30 volunteers to handle the logistics.
Even as late as two weeks before the event, it seemed the church might not meet its goal. Mead said they had gathered enough backpacks and supplies for about half the students.
In the final two weeks of the campaign, however, the congregation donated enough supplies for 900 backpacks! “God not only provided for the need,” Mead said, “but he provided in abundance.”
Mead says the excess backpacks are already spoken for. “The principal of another school had reached out to North Fayette,” he said, “and asked about partnerships.” New Hope will provide the remaining backpacks to the other school, which is also a Title 1 school.
Gathering the supplies was only the start of the work. Wallace, who says she has the gift of organization, scheduled the team of volunteers and over the course of three days they packed and put together the bags in an assembly line manner. “Everybody is willing, loving, and helpful,” she said of her team, “and if you give them a goal and they will meet it.”
In addition to the required school supplies, each pack contains a connection card for the kids ministry at New Hope and a list of upcoming events at the church. Mead, who said he hopes getting a backpack will lead people to Christ and the church, added “We were glad to be able to go out into the community and be Christ to them.”
New Hope church member Kris Harrington said the initiative is, “Truly a partnership with the school, and allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a very tangible way to these kids.”
In addition to providing the backpacks, the church organized a “Back to School Bash” last Saturday. Mead says they wanted to offer a fun and exciting event for the students.
The festive activities included inflatables, face-painting, food trucks, fire trucks and more. Wallace said close to 100 church members volunteered to distribute backpacks, man the various booths and help with the festival.
When they arrived, students registered and were given a voucher they could exchange for a new, filled backpack. At the distribution tables, kids were greeted by enthusiastic, friendly volunteers standing before piles of backpacks in every color imaginable. They asked each child, “What’s your favorite color?” before helping them pick out the perfect backpack.
Mom Alicia Mojica, whose child will be in 2nd grade at the school, said the church outreach was a “nice event, that helps the kids get back into back-to-school mode.”
Smith exclaimed, “When people come together, like-minded and with a common goal, they can accomplish anything. Six hundred backpacks seemed too much, but now we have enough to support two Title 1 schools!”
