July 15, 2009

2009 Back 2 School Blast Planned for August 8th
Book Bags and Supplies to be Given Out During 7th-Annual Event;
Community Carnival Sponsored by Local Businesses, Churches

Many Walker County families have been hit hard by the economic recession, leaving some parents wondering if they'll be able to provide their children with necessary school supplies next month. But LaFayette-area churches and businesses are working together with Kids 4 Christ to help those families get their kids back to school with the supplies they need to be successful students.

At the seventh-annual Back 2 School Blast parents can pick up free book bags filled with essential school supplies for their school-age kids. Families attending the Blast on August 8th can also enjoy carnival games, an inflatable slide, and a free meal. The Blast is open to any family with a need, and everything is provided free of charge.

Back 2 School Blast began in 2002 as a cookout where bags of pencils were given away, but it has since grown into a community tradition attended by hundreds. In 2008 more than 360 people at-tended the Back 2 School Blast and some 269 book bags were given to attending children.

As in past years, the Blast would not be possible without strong community support. Kids 4 Christ de-pends on donations and volunteer time in order to fill hundreds of book bags with school supplies. Several local businesses have signed up to sponsor this year's Blast, but more donations and volun-teers are needed to reach this year's goal of packing 350 book bags.

The most needed items are filler paper, spiral-bound notebooks, and pencils because each book bag will contain several of those items. But other school supplies are in demand as well, to go in book bags and use as prizes for the event's games. Volunteers are also needed; this year's Back 2 School Blast will need a volunteer staff of forty people.

To make donations easier, school supply collection boxes have been set up in several locations around LaFayette, including the Bank of LaFayette (all branches), Gateway Bank, LaFayette Church of God on Daugherty St., First Baptist, First United Methodist, Cohutta Bank, and Antioch Baptist in Kensing-ton. Local residents are encouraged to purchase school supplies and drop them in one of the collection boxes or drop them off at the Kids 4 Christ building by August 1st.

The 2009 Back 2 School Blast will be held 11 AM on Saturday, August 8th, at the Kids 4 Christ building on the corner of Withers and Cherokee in downtown LaFayette. For more information about Back 2 School Blast call Kids 4 Christ at (706) 639 3234 or see K4C Web site at www.k4c.info.

Kids 4 Christ publishes two newsletters, one for K4C students and a mailing for volunteers and supporters. K4C also sends out e-mail updates and weekly prayer request Knee-Mail.

K4C students with supplies distributed during 2008 Back 2 School Blast

Crowds lining up for last year's Blast