School Supplies All Year Long!

Do you remember how exciting it was when you had brand new, sharpened pencils, all the colors a box of Crayola crayons could offer, fresh pens and a crisp supply of notebook paper to start out the school year? Well, it’s here! August 10th is the first day of school in Okaloosa County and our missions team, with our church family’s generous support, will be helping in-need students with backpacks and school supplies at our annual August 1st Back to School event. We hope to serve 200+ students that day but the school year is almost 10 months long and those school supply needs continue for many children throughout the year. That is why Blessings for Children offers school supplies, along with clothing (t-shirts, underwear, and socks) diapers, and personal care items each Wednesday, all year long.

 If you find yourself with “extras” of back-to-school items (crayons, scissors (children’s blunt or pointed), glue sticks, erasers, pencils, folders, or highlighters) please consider sharing any of those items with our Blessings for Children ministry. They will be a blessing to our families throughout the school year!

If you would like to join us in helping our area’s children in need at Blessings for Children, here are some ways to consider:  
 

• Please pray for the ministry and all who participate. Be on the lookout for families you can refer to us for assistance.
• Consider donating items we distribute to the children: diapers (size 4, 5, and 6 in particular), pull-ups, wipes, school supplies, children sized t-shirts, socks and underwear, children’s toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and toilet paper. A complete list of items we distribute can be found at shalimar-umc.org/blessings-for-children. You can donate items by stopping by the #10 2nd Street house behind the church any Wednesdays from 11:30am - 3:30pm.
• Children’s bibles, bible stories, and activity books are always a joy to receive and distribute. Spanish language Bibles are always needed!
• A financial gift designated to Blessings for Children through the church allows us to replenish the needed items we distribute weekly.          

               
New volunteers are always welcome, with no regular commitment required.

For additional information
Mary Jane Robertson
Email: mjr53@cox.net
Visit: shalimar-umc.org/blessings-for-children
Phone: (850) 499-6173
Open every Wednesday 12 - 3:30 pm