Impacting Your World Christian Ministries (IYWCM) will present its 5th annual Back-to-School Fun Day and Backpack Giveaway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Emancipation Gardens.
The backpack giveaway is designed to provide disadvantaged kids with a backpack filled with school supplies to help them start the 2009-2010 school year. The program targets children in grades K-8 and distributes the backpacks to kids referred by programs such as the Department of Health’s WIC Program, the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program and Nana Children’s Home. The program has benefited over 200 disadvantaged kids in the community and is gearing up to giveaway 250 bags this year.
“Children all across the world need someone to step in and help them, but it’s really been on our hearts to help the children right in our own community,” said Dr. Gerald McDonald, senior pastor of IYWCM. “Back-to-school time can be quite costly, and with much of the world facing a recession, we want to make sure our future generation is not forgotten. We want to do our part to assist”
This year, in addition to the Backpack Giveaway, a Fun Day and informational fair will be held. Parents as well as the community are invited to come out and take advantage of the wealth of information that will be available from a number of community-based organizations and government agencies. The organizations include the V.I. Community Foundation/Family Connection, the Department of Health, We from Upstreet, the V.I. Water and Power Authority, the Book Mobile, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, V.I. Fire Services and much more. There will also be bouncers, characters, games, face painting and a host of other fun activities for the kids.
Donations and contributions are welcome. To make a tax deductible contribution, contact the church at 715-2482 or send to Impacting Your World Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 305155, St. Thomas, VI 00803.
