TYLER, Texas — Green Acres Baptist Church partnered with local nonprofits this weekend for a school supply drive.
A back to school event Saturday saw dozens of families turn out to pick up free school supplies, have their faces painted and several other fun activities for children before they go back to class in the fall. Organizers with the church said this event is important to help take the burden off parents struggling with the costs that come with sending children back to school.
"I think what we wanna do is set our kids up for success, and we want to make sure they have all the basic needs in going back to school," Eddy Espinosa, the business and operations administrator for GABC, said.
Last year, the event handed out over 1,400 backpacks. This year, they ordered 2,000 to keep up with the demand.
"With all the additional expenses that parents take on with in getting kids ready for school this is one less thing they have to worry about," Espinosa said.