Back to School Blast

On Sunday, August 18th two United Methodist Congregations (one an affluent church and one a church located in a neighborhood of poverty) came together to distribute school supplies to the neighborhood children.  67 families were served and 157 children received their school supplies (everything on their list) at this event.  Free clothes were available for "shopping", toothbrushes and dental hygiene supplies were distributed, health screenings were given to adults, there were free activities for the children including crafts, popcorn and free snow cones.

Everyone had a lovely day.

But the most important thing that happened was the relationships that were built across the economic divide.  This is a difficult thing to do and so many UMC's live in a mono-economic and mono-cultural world that these events that have differnet economic groups and different ethnic groups interacting and actually getting to know each other make such a difference in the transformational work that God is doing in all of us. 

This wasn't just a "get free stuff" event where you line up and get stuff and go home. Each family was appointed an advocate -- someone that walked with them through the whole process and made sure that they got what they needed. Their advocate stayed with them, got to know them, asked how we could pray for them. We learned more about our neighbors and they learned more about us.  And we were transformed as a result of this kind of serving.  Remembering that all of us have something to give, and everyone has something they need.