Back to School Bash seeks donations

Published 9:00 am Friday, July 14, 2017

LIVE OAK — The Suwannee Coalition is hoping to not be empty handed at next month’s Back to School Bash.

The backpacks and supplies have already been ordered but the Suwannee Coalition is seeking donations to cover the cost of the backpacks, as it is currently unable to pay for them.

Title I will covered the cost of supplies.

The Back to School Bash was started 15 years ago by Christ Central and Pastor Wayne Godsmark.

Godsmark eventually reached out to the Suwannee Coalition to help organize the event and expand it in the community.

“This is a physical demonstration of God’s love,” Godsmark said. “It was started to meet a need for the community and to be more than just a building on the side of the road.”

He added that at the beginning they would reach a couple hundred children but Suwannee Coalition made it a bigger event with more people reached.

The bash will be Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Suwannee High School auditorium and gym, 1314 SW Pine Ave.

The annual event will give away 1,000 book bags filled with paper, crayons, pencils and other essential school items for students from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

The Suwannee Coalition is also seeking volunteers for the day before and the day of the event, sponsors for the event and anyone with ideas to make the event a bigger and better success.

If anyone would like to donate, volunteer, set up a booth or sponsor the event, visit www.backtoschoolbash.org.

“This is what it looks like when Christians are being Christians,” said Steven Schneitman, a committee member.