Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our goals has been to find the best way to respond that would help our community, and give our church family an outlet to serve during a season that still seems so uncertain. The Live Awake team was created to plan and execute projects designed to tangibly display love and inspire hope to those in our area that need it most.
Here is the next installment of our series detailing the projects undertaken by the Live Awake team with support and involvement from our larger Awaken Church family.
Live Awake Project - IACS Back to School Backpack Giveaway
At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, we partnered with Idaho Arts Charter School to supply backpacks filled with supplies to families who needed them. Though the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year looked quite a bit different, Pastor Brandon and Ciara Nitchals with support from the Live Awake team worked to make that partnership happen again. Working with the staff at IACS, supply lists for each grade level were compiled. Then, the counseling staff at the school sent out a form for parents to sign their children up to receive a backpack.
Last year, Awaken Church had the opportunity to provide 70 IACS students with backpacks. This year, within two hours of the form being available to families, 165 students had signed up to receive a backpack and supplies. Thanks to the generosity of our Awaken family, we were able to provide 174 backpacks filled with all of the supplies students would need for their school year. With all of the added stresses, financial and otherwise, that COVID has introduced this year, it was an honor to give a small amount of relief to those who needed it.
Volunteers from the church purchased school supplies and assembled the backpacks, including a note letting each student know that we believe in them. Then, in an effort to protect volunteers and families in a socially distanced way, families were able to drive through to pick up the backpack, as well as a treat to celebrate the beginning of the school year. In the two years that this event has been held, it has become an incredible way of building community with the students and families who attend IACS, and we look forward to a continued partnership in the years to come.
Check out photos of the event below.
