As the time draws near for the opening of school for 2021-22, Red Bay First United Methodist Church will once again be giving out school supplies to students who need them. on Saturday, July 31st, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The supplies will be given out in a drive-through format, as they were last year.
Rhonda Crutchfield, one of the coordinators of the school supply give away, says without necessary school supplies it is impossible for students to do their work. “We at First Methodist are blessed to be able to coordinate this give away to help students,” she said. Crutchfield explained that the school supplies for each grade level will be packed in a backpack and handed to the cars as they pass through the line. “The drive-through line will form to pass by the fellowship hall of the church where the supplies will be given out,” she said.
The supplies have been purchased using as a guide teachers’ lists stating what students in each grade level will need. Those who come for the supplies will tell those handing them out what grade levels are needed. There will be supplies available for students in Pre-K, all the way through high school. Students receiving the school supplies must be in the vehicle with the parent or guardian before the supplies can be given out. The give-away is not only for Red Bay students; it is also for students from the surrounding area.
There will be church members directing the flow of traffic and helping with the giving out of the supplies. Janet Roberts, one of the coordinators of the program, says the back-to-school supply give away has been a part of the outreach ministry of Red Bay First United Methodist Church for more than 10 years.
“This is a ministry that is very dear to all of us at First Methodist Church,” Roberts said. “Even though the pandemic is not raging as it was last year at this time, we are still in difficult times. Students must have supplies to do their schoolwork. We are blessed to be able to give these supplies out and help families in this special way.”
This year’s event will be handled much like last year’s.
“Last year due to the pandemic, we did the school supply give away as a drive through and it worked beautifully, so we decided to do it that way again this year.” Roberts said. She pointed out there is one difference this year, and that is no one will be required to wear a mask since the state mask mandate has been lifted.
For more information about the school supply giveaway, call Teresa Fears, First United Methodist Church secretary, at 256-356-4654. If you would like to donate financially to help with the expense of buying the supplies, you may do that also.
“There are a lot of caring folks in Red Bay and the surrounding area,” Roberts said. “Each year we have those who help us make this successful, and all help is greatly appreciated.”
