Organization Needs Help With Back To School Event

A Cherokee County nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low income children start the school year on the right foot is asking the public to help them fulfill that mission.

Give a Kid a Chance is reaching out to the community ahead of its annual Back To School Bash, which provides children with all the essentials before they head back to school in August.

This year's event is set for July 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hillside United Methodist Church in Towne Lake and First Baptist Canton. 

The organization now needs hairstylists and filled backpacks for the event, which will be handed out to less fortunate children throughout the county. 

Last year, 2,800 backpacks were distributed in one day. An additional 200 were sent to MUST Ministries, where they were picked up by families who couldn’t attend the event. That total was the largest since the nonprofit began in 2006, when 100 backpacks were handed out.

It expects to exceed last year's total by at least 1,000, according to a press release from the organization. 

Volunteers can sign up online and donors can visit the website to view the directions for purchasing backpacks and supplies. 

Parents are urged to also pre-register their children for the event as the last hour of the day is reserved for walk-ins. 

Next month, more than 500 volunteers will gather to help the children: Spanish translators, hair stylists, optometrists, dentist and hygienists, audiologists, ENT physicians, physical therapists and many others willing to donate their time and talents.  

“It is amazing to see all the churches and volunteers working together to demonstrate God’s love,” said Cheryl Ruffer, co-founder and co-director. “No matter how hard you try, you can’t out give God. If you join us, I guarantee you will get back much more than you give!”

The goal of Give a Kid a Chance is to prepare Cherokee County students in need with everything necessary for a successful school year.

Each child gets a backpack filled with grade-appropriate supplies, gently used clothing, a haircut, medical screenings (including vision, dental, scoliosis and hearing), new packages of socks and underwear and a hot lunch. Children can also pick out a book and stuffed animal. 

“We feel we are making our community a better place,” Ruffer added. “People sometimes get frustrated with the bad things in the world and don't think they can make a difference. If everyone did one thing to help then we would change the world.”

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