Needy children get school supplies at IPM event

More than 250 children are ready for school thanks to the efforts of Inter Parish Ministry.

During its annual Back-to-School event, IPM provided children with: backpacks, pencils, erasers, pens, notebooks, shoe gift cards to Payless Shoe Source and more. The event, at the Mount Carmel Christian Church, included crafts, food, family pictures and a mobile food pantry which provided families with a weeks worth of food.

“Every year the program grows, offering more services because of our many partners and a growing community that is committed to serving those in need,” IPM program coordinator Sarah Cadle said

This year’s program was a collaboration with many of IPM’s partners and volunteers including supporting churches and community members who donated the school supplies and funds for the shoe gift cards. Bake Me Home’s Take Me Home program provided the family pictures and Mount Carmel Christian Church hosted the event and provided food, crafts and hospitality. More than 105 volunteers helped at the event.

Diane Kleinfelter, event coordinator for Mount Carmel Christian Church, said she was pleased to see how well the event flowed and helped the families who attended.

“This is a great opportunity to partner with Inter Parish Ministry to meet the school readiness needs of families. Loving God, loving people is the mission of our church and this is all part of it,” she said.

Getting a child ready to return to school can be costly. According to the National Retail Federation, average spending this year is about $634.78 per family.