Local Church Giving Away 5,000 Back To School Backpacks

Workers are busy setting up the campus at OKC Faith church, to give hope to families through school supplies.

“This is our 21st year of doing Hope in the City, giving away 5,000 backpacks and school supplies,” said Terry Bates, lead pastor at OKC Faith Church.

For Bates, the day is more than just providing school supplies.

“It’s always about hope, it’s always about not bullying, it’s always an anti-drug message, but always gives a message of hope,” said Bates.

As families come into the church, they’re greeted with some familiar faces.

“This year, we’re including the theme of Super Mario brothers and some of the other popular things that kids would really be excited about,” said Bates.

The hope is to get kids to imagine and dream about big things.

“Then they are going to be imagining what it would be like if they were an athlete, and they were the difference maker in the world series,” said Bates.  

Families will go through the lines to get their new backpacks and school supplies.

“They get a bag lunch, which is filled with fresh hot burritos that we made starting at 4:30 in the morning Saturday morning,” said Bates.  

This year the church decided to step up their giving.

“We are able to give one electronic tablet, Wi-Fi enabled per family,” said Bates.

Tablets will be given one per address. Students must be present to qualify for the tablets as well as the school supplies.

“We understood how hard it was at times for students who didn’t have tablets, who didn’t have access to actually get the education that they needed,” said Dan Anderson with Galaxy Distributions.

In years past, Anderson has participated in the Hope in the City events and made the donation of 5,000 tablets.

“They are going to find out that people care, and that when they’re blessed. They are going to be able to turn around and give back to someone as well,” said Anderson.

“I mean we don’t start our presentations until eight o’clock and families are lining up at 6 a.m. because they so desperately and urgently need this help,” said Bates.

A day of excitement for the families, that is also pretty special for the volunteers.

“It just lights them up, and when it lights them up, it lights us up,” said Bates.

Everything kicks off at 8 a.m. August 12, however it is recommended to come early. OKC Faith Church is located at at 800 S. Portland. For information about Hope in the City, and their other locations visit www.hopeinthecity.com