BACK-TO-SCHOOL HELP FAIR Assisting Children and Families, Getting the New Year off to Great Start
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ugust is certainly a busy time as summer winds down and families get ready for their kids to go back to school. For those families who may struggle to provide all of the supplies, clothes, and necessities their children are expected to have on that first day of school, the Backto-School Help Fair is a huge blessing. Our parish partners with other area churches to host this event for residents of Adams County. Karen Hugenberg helps coordinate the efforts at St. Peter and volunteers at the fair.
“I can just see it in the eyes of the children. They want a nice outfit for the first day of school, and it’s nice when they can find something that they like and will feel good in.” — KAREN HUGENBERG She says the volunteers prepare more than 800 backpacks each year. Children can also receive a free haircut, clothing, and dental exam, and volunteer nurses provide physicals and immunizations.
“We’re coming together with a lot of churches to meet the needs of children in our community,” Karen says. “I don’t know of a lot of ecumenical events like this. I think it’s important that St. Peter’s is represented.” The fair was started by First Baptist Church more than 30 years ago. As the event grew, more and more local churches got involved. To prepare for the fair, our parish usually has a clothing drive, collecting socks and underwear in particular. Clothing was collected at the school at the end of the year and parishioners can find donation boxes for clothing in the narthex of the church at the end of the month. Karen is always touched when she sees the happiness of the children picking out their clothes at the fair. “I can just see it in the eyes of the children,” she says. “They want a nice outfit for the first day of school, and it’s nice when they can find something that they like and will feel good in.” continued on back cover
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