"Stuff the Backpacks!" Event, Dinner, Worship Service

School Supply Drive for Foster Kids Underway

Children’s Novel Way to Love Their Neighbors Engages Church, Community

WHAT: School Supply Drive for Fairfax Foster Children and Backpack-stuffing event

WHO:

• Area neighbors
• Children from Pender United Methodist Church
• Kids enrolled in Summer Music Camp
• All are welcome

WHERE:

Pender United Methodist Church
12401 Alder Woods Dr. Fairfax, VA 22033


WHEN;

Friday, July 15, 2011. 5 p.m.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Children enrolled in a summer music camp at Pender United Methodist Church in Fairfax, VA., are learning about more than just music this summer – they’re learning how to love their neighbor, and they’re putting that message into action for less-fortunate kids throughout Fairfax County. More than 50 kids will join the “Stuff the Backpacks” effort which will provide school supplies to foster kids county-wide.

 “The effort began because we heard about a need in our neighborhood that we could help with,” said effort organizer Megan Jones. “We will request supply lists of specific students from Fairfax County. Then, with donated funds, we’ll get the specific school supplies that a child needs and we’ll include a letter to each child wishing them luck in the coming school year and telling them that all the kids and adults who helped stuff their specific backpack will keep them in their prayers throughout the school year.”

Jones said that the lists of supplies each child needs at the beginning of the school year can be extensive, and expensive. Foster families take on additional financial responsibility to care for foster children and providing stuffed backpacks was one way the church could reach out and help their neighbors.

“Our kids don’t want to be thinking about going back to school yet either. But when we told some of them about the idea, they got excited to be able to help,” Jones said. “For a foster family, it’s never too early to think ahead about paying for needed supplies. So this was a way to ease that burden.”

Jones said the church would seek donations from members as well as the community. At the end of the music camp in mid-July, the music campers will invite neighbors around the western Fairfax church to help assemble the backpacks.     

To make a donation, please send a check payable to Pender UMC with “backpacks” in the memo line and send it to 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033. All donations will directly support the school supply drive for foster children.

The entire community is also invited to Pender's "Stuff The Backpacks" event on Friday, July 15, 2011, at 5 p.m. where the school supplies will be assembled and stuffed into backpacks. A free barbecue chicken dinner will follow.