A local church hosted a “Back to School “event for the community

Back to school is upon us, and it is time to gear up on all the supplies. With inflation, those supplies have steadily increased over time.

There is help for community members in the form of a “Back to School Bash” sponsored by The River Church in Duluth. The event will take place on Wednesday, August 24th, from 4 pm to 8 pm at Portland Square Park in Duluth.

This is the first time the church has held this event inviting the community to come and partake in the festivities.

“We are hoping families from our church and the community will be blessed. So people have been donating and working on this event for about two months. Local businesses have supported us and given as well,” said Julia Rivard, The River Church Children’s Pastor, and Administrator.

Along with free school supplies, there will be free clothes, haircuts, hotdogs, a bouncy house for the kids, live music performance, and more.

“With back-to-school supplies, we want to give everything in the community that kids need and give them the love, a foot, and a step ahead as they start the school year,” says volunteer and church member Rachel Kotanen.

“Yes, it is very important to us to let the community know that they are not alone and that we are here to support them, and we are going to get through this together. We are going to get to the future together. As a parent and a church family, we know that life is more than just what somebody hands you. It is about somebody caring about you and caring about you. You know your positive experience in life,” said Rivard.

Shantelle Alford, a volunteer and a member of The River Church, shared her experience at today’s event and how it showed her children the impact this can have on the community.

“I bought my girls out here today to show them what it looks like when you bring everyone in a community together with God, what he can give us, and look at what we got. It allows the kids and the families to have fun and last-minute things to do before school.”

250 back bags were handed out in the first 45 minutes of the event.