Vernon – For 13 years, Live Oak Baptist Church has encouraged and supported local families by hosting the back-to-school bash. This year, 550 people attended the event, where school-age children were equipped with backpacks filled with school supplies needed for Washington County Schools. Families were also given food boxes and clothing to help alleviate some of the costs of heading back to the classroom. 

“The back-to-school bash takes a large financial load off of families who need school supplies and gives them access to physicals, information and services available to them in our community,” said Tim Lanham, pastor of Live Oak Baptist Church. 

Community partners set up at the event each year to provide haircuts and school and sports physicals, ensuring that children are prepared for the new school year ahead. The local health department, The Big Red Bus, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the local library, the Lions Club and Hope for Hearts Pregnancy and Family Center were some of the participants making the event informative and practically helpful to families. 

More than 100 volunteers from Ebro Baptist Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, Unity Baptist Church and the Hellfighters Motorcycle Ministry greeted attendees, sharing the gospel with each person in attendance – the goal of the event. 

The volunteers see the annual event as an opportunity to show the community that they care because of the love of Christ. “The event continues to grow each year because we have stayed true to the original calling—to make these resources available as a means to share the gospel with our community,” added Lanham.