On August 17th, Calvary Chapel Worship Center put on our 20th annual Back to School Bash for families within our area. Our event has always incorporated giving backpacks filled with school supplies away to families in need. Throughout the years, we have noticed just how much this helps families and how much they appreciate it. However, we did start to notice that many kids did not have the opportunity to get new shoes for school. We decided that this year we would have a program called Kicks N’ Packs, giving out shoes or backpacks to those in need.
Kicks N’ Packs: Tennis Shoes and Backpacks for Kids in Need
We here at CCWC noticed that many children going back to school had a hard time getting new shoes for the school year. We all know how quickly kids grow, and they can easily grow out of a pair of new shoes in a year. Because of this, we decided to use our Back to School Bash to give families the option of getting a backpack full of supplies or new shoes for the school year. We were able to serve over 1,000 children, giving them items they needed for a new school year, allowing them to be prepared to learn and have fun. The age range was from kindergarten to twelfth grade, giving everyone of all school ages the opportunity to get necessities. It was incredible to see the faces of the kids as they were able to get all of these items, and it was amazing to see so many excited to return to school.
Volunteers From All over Helped Families
Not only did our Back to School Bash give kids new shoes or backpacks, but we also had businesses from all over the area who helped give kids needed health exams and haircuts. These included eye exams from the Wal-Mart Eye Center, and Zone Barber Shop and Leo’s and Bene’s School of Beauty donated their time and skills to provide kids with haircuts. Payless Shoes from Gulf-View Square Mall also joined with us by giving families discounts on many amazing tennis shoes for back to school needs. We had over 100 volunteers from the area to help put this Back to School Bash together, helping set it up and making it run smoothly for all of the families in attendance.
Over 1,000 Children Were Blessed with Back to School Necessities
It is always one of the most incredible experiences watching children get their new school supplies, running through the area with looks of glee on their faces. We love doing this, and we are very thankful for all of the hard work those in our community put into Kicks N’ Packs, making it the best 20th anniversary!
