Every August I am overwhelmed when I walk into any retail store. Parents are squeezing down the aisle with children in tow, inspecting a list of the precise supplies needed for the upcoming school year. It’s seemingly chaotic but always quite entertaining to me. There’s something refreshing and exciting about the first day of school…whether or not the child wants to admit it.

But there are many children who don’t get the opportunity to endure a Saturday at the store, toiling over those important decisions: Do I get the yellow or blue folder? Is it still cool to have cartoon characters on my number 2 pencils?

These children live in some of the poorest areas of the inner city, and they aren’t quite sure if they’ll have anything to carry to school on the first day.

Thankfully though, many organizations are out there providing much needed relief to parents…places like the St. Louis Dream Center. 

Donations Help Thousands In the Inner City
Even as the rain began to beat down, the line continued to grow at the Dream Center’s annual Back to School Blast. Nearly 4,000 people showed up for the event, allowing the church and ministry center to make a huge impact on the surrounding community.

Partnering with HealthCare USA, the Dream Center gave away more than 1,500 brand new backpacks to area children along with all the supplies they would need. But there was a catch—before they could receive the backpack, the parents and their children were required to go to 20 educational booths, which included preventative health and dental screenings and information. There was even an area for the moms to receive free mammogram screenings.

Giving Away More than Just Backpacks
Throughout the Dream Center’s property, children received a free haircut, a new pair of shoes (300 were given away), and the whole family enjoyed a free lunch. More than 2,000 hot dogs were grilled and served.

And a Back to School Blast wouldn’t be complete without a lot of fun. Volunteers showed up to paint faces, help with a cake walk, run carnival-like games, man the moon bounces, and entertain the crowd with musical performances.

All Set for School
It’s an awesome experience to witness the joy on a child’s face, and the relief in the parent’s, when they receive everything they need to start the year off on the right foot.

School’s already under way for these children in inner-city St. Louis. And as a partner with Joyce Meyer Ministries, you can know that you helped play a part in this vital outreach.