The 11th annual Grace Day will provide families with the necessary supplies to ensure kids have a great start to the school year, organizers said.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 221 Brierton Lane, in Festus.
Festus Middle School teacher Tim Krysl, a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, came up with the idea for the event.
Grace Day coordinator Kathryn Roylance, an evangelism board director at Immanuel Lutheran Church, said Krysl felt compelled by God to share grace with his community.
“All the Lutheran churches in Jefferson County have been continuing his vision throughout the years,” Roylance said.
This year’s Grace Day will provide families with various items and services to help them get ready for the school year.
“The event is free for back-to-school aged children (kindergarten through 12th grade), where we provide them with free book bags, school supplies, shoes, socks, underwear and hygiene products,” Roylance said.
Along with those back-to-school items, several services will be available to help families, like automotive checks, haircuts and a school photograph opportunity. The Jefferson County Health Department will have its mobile health unit on hand. The Jefferson County Library will be there to provide information. Also at the event, families will have the chance to sign up their children for the free lunch program at their various schools.
The automotive service checks will offer fluid top-offs, tire pressure checks and more services.
Also available will be several hairstylists to cut and trim children’s hair. After the haircuts, families will have the option to have a digital school photo taken. Once the photo is taken, it will be sent to the family for downloading.
Lutheran churches in Jefferson County donate items for the event, and some foundations also provide assistance.
This year, the Zion Lutheran Church was asked to collect shoes. Due to the high cost of new shoes, the church received a grant from the Jefferson Foundation to buy additional shoes for the drive.
The Lutheran Foundation also provided funds for the community event, Roylance said.
“At Immanuel, since we’re hosting it this year, we received a grant to help cover the expenses, such as all the tables and canopies and advertising,” she said.
Other expenses include the cost of food and T-shirts for volunteers.
Last year, about 1,400 people attended the event, including children and adults, and this year organizers expect to help about 800 children, Roylance said.
She said she has worked as a “personal shopper” at the event, walking families through to help ensure they get what they need.
“Every year I hear the same things: This is just very beneficial to our family; we’re so grateful to get new shoes and backpacks,” Roylance said. “It’s just a huge relief on moms and dads to be able to provide new items for their children, to equip them to go back to school, feeling healthy and well cared for.”