The Lutheran churches in Jefferson County helped about 1,240 people at the 11th annual Grace Day held Aug. 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Festus, said Kathryn Roylance, who coordinated the back-to-school event.
She said about 140 volunteers helped at the event, which provided book bags, supplies, shoes, socks, clothing and other items to attendees, adding that 372 children in kindergarten through fifth-grade and 418 in sixth through 12th grade received help. In addition, preschoolers and adults received services at or through the event.
Roylance said about 400 bags of hygiene items and 219 packs of boys’ underwear were handed out. Volunteers also helped nearly 40 families who needed some minor services for their cars.
Families gather outside Immanuel Lutheran Church to get free school supplies and other items for their children.
She said the turnout at the event was similar to those in past years.
“The flow and the services provided were very comparable to how it’s been over the past 11 years,” she said. “(The event) went really well.”
Roylance said the families were grateful to receive the brand-new items and other help.
She said she was surprised by the number of professional hairstylists who donated their time at the event providing 39 children with haircuts.
Each attendee at the event was met with a volunteer who acted as a “personal shopper,” helping families pick out what they needed.
“(The personal shopper) would help (attendees) gather things, carry things to their car, pray over them and just share the grace and love of Christ to them as they prepare for a new school year,” Roylance said.
Volunteer Janene Shelledy said she loved seeing how much the event meant to those who received help.
“One little girl’s face just lit up when we pulled out a hoodie for her that apparently was the most beautiful one she had ever seen,” Shelledy said.
Next year’s Grace Day will be held on Aug. 1 at the Cedar Hill Lutheran Church, 8600 Silver Lane, in Cedar Hill.