Graceville Church Hosts Second Annual Back-to-School Bash

By: Shelia Mader

Families in Graceville gathered at Faith Assembly of God Church on Saturday, August 2, for the second annual Back-to-School Bash, a community event filled with fun, food, and generosity.

Event organizer Kim Berry said the goal was simple: give kids one last carefree afternoon before the school year begins, while also blessing families with needed supplies.

“We did it last year to try to help the kids out, to give them a fun day of cooling off before they had to buckle down and go to school every day,” Berry said. “We wanted to bless them with school supplies if they needed them, a meal, watermelon, all the good stuff. Just to love on them.”

From 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the church grounds were filled with laughter, the smell of grilled hot dogs, and the sight of children enjoying the summer sun. Volunteers served drinks, chips, desserts, and fresh watermelon. Around 75 hot dogs were prepared, with only a handful left by the end of the day, signaling a strong turnout.

Faith Assembly of God sits just steps away from Poplar Springs School, and Berry said any leftover school supplies will go directly to students there. “We’re right behind Poplar Springs School, we could almost throw a rock to it,” she said. “Anything we have left over, we just donate to the school.”

Berry encouraged anyone in need of school supplies to reach out, noting that she keeps a small stock at her office for smaller schools that may have fewer community resources.

The event, now in its second year, continues to grow and embodies the spirit of community support. “It’s real small, but it’s real special,” Berry said with a happy voice that exemplified how proud she was of the event’s success.