Back To School Shopping Just Got Way Easier For 300 Kids After Church Bought All Their Supplies
August 02, 2019

A church in Kansas made back to school shopping a whole lot easier for 300 students. They felt called to provide school supplies for every child at Hillsboro Elementary School. It was a huge undertaking but God paved the way for this amazing act of kindness!
With an average attendance around 290, Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church certainly isn't a huge church. But as influential pastor Mark Batterson says, a God-sized dream, by definition, is beyond our ability and resources.
RELATED: An Act of Kindness To Pay Off School Lunch Debts Left Volunteer Speechless
So, the idea of doing back to school shopping for all 300 students of Hillsboro Elementary School was certainly a God-sized dream. And those are the best kind!
Church Checks Off Back To School Supplies List
Back to school shopping can be a daunting task, especially for families struggling to make ends meet. And as the hands and feet of Jesus, this is one way the church can serve their community.
When Tami Driggers heard of how the First United Methodist Church in Emporia, Kansas donated school supplies for every student attending Emporia Public Schools, it really touched her heart. The unexpected blessing meant the world to the local parents gearing up for the financial hit of back to school shopping.
"I wasn’t sure if I would have been able to buy them," parent Pamela Jordan said. "But now I don’t have to. Our family and I’m sure many others are grateful of the generous donation.”
Tami wondered if her own church, Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, might be able to do something similar in their community.
“We just got to talking about what a cool thing it would be to try and do this,” she says.
So, Tami took the back to school shopping idea to the leadership at her church.
“I think within 15 minutes of it being presented, somebody said let's just do it,” Lead Pastor Tom Byford said.
Community Blessed By Church's Back To School Shopping
Buying school supplies for an entire elementary school was no easy task. But Tami and her fellow church members welcomed the challenge.
“We were planning for about 300 kids, and I think we got it done for around $22 to $23 a kid,” she said.
By the time all of the back to school shopping was complete, the bill totaled more than $7,000. But our God isn't limited by numbers or dollars or cents!
“It is easy to look back on all the ways that God worked that out for us,” Pastor Tom said.
And now the congregation is planning a packing party to get all the supplies ready for the first day of school.
“Our hope is that it will help take off a burden and they (parents) will be relaxed about getting their kids ready for school,” Rachel Winter said of the blessing. She's worked at Hillsboro Elementary School for 40 years.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 30 Inspirational Quotes for Teachers at the Start of the School Year
And while the church is the hands and feet behind the incredible act of kindness, all the glory goes to God.
“I feel like God just provided,” Tami said.
It's a beautiful reminder that nothing is too big for our God! He will always see good deeds like this through.
WATCH: Church Takes Care Of Back To School Shopping For 300 Kids
h/t: KSN News
Featured Image: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Contentment in Retirement Years - Your Daily Prayer - February 17
Retirement isn’t the end of purpose; it’s the beginning of peace. Discover how godly contentment can transform your next chapter.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Contentment in Retirement Years - Your Daily Prayer - February 17
Retirement isn’t the end of purpose; it’s the beginning of peace. Discover how godly contentment can transform your next chapter.
Past Stories
- Young Boy With Autism Finds Friendship and Support at His Neighborhood Grocery Store
- Top 25 Easter Hymns and Songs for Easter Sunday Playlists
- 33 Birthday Bible Verses For A Sister
- When a Football Coach’s Heart Stopped, an Off-Duty Firefighter Stepped In Without Hesitation
- After a 500-Foot Fall, This Paraglider’s Survival Feels Nothing Short of a Miracle
- Motherhood Fuels Elana Meyers Taylor as She Competes in Her Historic Fifth Olympics
- Top 25 Christian Songs Named for Bible Verses - Scripture Inspired Hymns
- 39 Best Birthday Bible Verses For A Son To Celebrate With Scripture
- When Peace Is Disrupted
- Florida Man is a True Hero After Saving Two Toddlers He Found in the Middle of a Busy Street
- Family of Young Boy Who Almost Drowned Meets the 911 Dispatcher That Helped Save His Life
- Neighbor Risks His Life to Save a Mother and Her Children From a House Fire
- Woman Receives a Letter in the Mail From 1953 and Figures Out Who It Belongs To
- Can You Lose Your Salvation?
- 10 Classic Christian Sunday School Songs That Kids Love To Sing
- 37 Best Birthday Bible Verses For A Daughter To Bless Her Special Day With Scripture
- These Two Mini Goldendoodles Are the Best Part of This Wisconsin Hotel
- After His Truck Became a Meme, the Community Stepped Up With a Huge Act of Kindness
- 15 Comforting Christian Songs for a Death or Tragedy
- What This Waitress Leaves For These Tired Firefighters Is So Touching I Cried!
- Woman Gives Birth Without Knowing She Was Pregnant, Leaving Her and Her Husband in Awe
- One Small Act of Kindness at a Pharmacy Led to an Unexpected Blessing
- After Years of Waiting and Loss, This Couple’s Path to Parenthood Took a Beautiful Turn
- 200 Hamburgers, Endless Smiles: Shelter Dogs Get a Feast They’ll Never Forget
- Meeting God in The Quiet
- What Began as a DNA Test Became a Father-Son Reunion Years in the Making
- A Simple Flea Market Visit in Kentucky Leads to an Incredible Family Reunion With the Past
- She Found a Lost Wallet on the Subway, Not Knowing How Returning it Would Change Her Life
- Supercentenarian Celebrates Her 111th Birthday and a Life Well Lived With Family and Friends
- Finding Love Again at 78, This Loving Couple Met at Church and Married Four Months Later
- Siblings Are Heroes After Saving Their Bus Driver and Keeping the Other Kids Calm
- Brave Father Runs Back Into Burning Home to Rescue His Daughter From House Fire
- The Power of Your Mouth
- Born in the Middle of World War I, This 108-Year-Old is Still Going Strong
- Diagnosed With Bone Cancer, Young Soldier Reunites With the Dog He Loved Overseas
- Baby Boy Born in a Carl's Jr. Parking Lot After Parents Didn't Make it to the Hospital On Time
- Landlord Surprises His Tenants By Offering Free Rent in November and December
- Birthday Boy Saves Friend From Drowning at His Own Pool Party
- His Girlfriend Had Sweet Memories of Bass Pro Shops, So That's Where Her Boyfriend Proposed
- Proud Parents Get a Surprise Visit From Their Soldier Son After Over a Year Apart
- Into the Deep End
- 93-Year-Old Grandfather Travels 40 Hours to Surprise His Grandson on His Wedding Day
- Trapped in a Burning Car, She Honked for Help, and a Brave Officer Saved Her Life
- Texas City Offers Something Special and Heartwarming With Their 'Grandma Stand'
- At 100, Wisconsin Navy Veteran Founded a Church and Still Serves as a Crossing Guard
- New York Police Officer Reunites With Woman He Helped on a Cold Winter Day
- When They Feared Losing Their Newborn, They Prayed for a Miracle, Then He Pulled Through
- Family Battling Daughter’s Rare Illness Gets the Perfect Secret Santa Surprise
- When a Loyal Customer Didn’t Show Up, This Chef Followed His Heart and Saved Him
- When a Comment Hits Deeper Than Expected
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Rendition of ‘The First Hymn’ Will Stir Your Soul

chris rupp When the Saints Go Marching In - Chris Rupp A cappella ft. Deke Sharon and Jeff Thacher

toby mac TobyMac Drops ‘Heaven On My Mind’ Official Music Video

toby mac TobyMac Unveils ‘Heaven on My Mind’ Lyric Video
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.









