Blessing of the Backpacks

Friends,

What an incredible exhibition of generosity we witnessed Sunday for our “Blessing of the Backpacks”. Three tables full of school supplies and backpacks that were blessed and then taken to the action center. Our goal here at Shepherd of the Hills was to support 100 families with school supplies/backpacks and we surpassed that goal.

Did you know that on average, families spend more than $890.07 per child to prepare for the new school year, marking a new record high and making it the second-largest annual expense for most households.

Between 2022 and 2024, the cost of school supplies rose by approximately 24.5%, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index—food costs have increased 10%, rent and housing are up 8%, and utility bills have doubled—it’s clear that many Jefferson County families are struggling to keep up.

With the support of our donations, The Action Center will provide school supplies to more than 5,000 students in Jefferson County. Together with numerous other churches and organizations in the county, we helped students feel confident and ready to learn and parents feel gratitude for the support.

Thank you so much all you “generous spirits”.

Pastor Heather