Groups work together to get school supplies

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The City Prayer Team of Youngstown, Mahoning Valley Youth Collaborative and The Jericho Project are joining forces to assist families as they prepare to send their children back to school.

Free backpacks and school supplies will be distributed. But, children must be registered to receive the supplies.

Registration will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Aug. 17 at the Warriors Inc. (Hope Building), 2733 Market St., (330) 783-5440; the McGuffey Centre, 1649 Jacobs Road, (330) 744-4377; and OCCHA, 3660 Shirley Road, (330) 781-1808.

Registration also will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday through Aug. 14 at United Methodist Community Center, 334 N. Pearl St., (330) 743-5149, ext. 226.

The giveaway, on a first-come, first-serve basis, is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 22 at Wick Park on Youngstown’s North Side. There also will be hot dogs, snow cones, chips and other refreshments for children and their families. An adult must accompany each child who is to receive a backpack.

The organizations’ goal is to fill 1,000 backpacks with school supplies. Donations are needed from area churches and ministries and other organizations that wish to contribute.

School supplies including pencils, pens, spiral notebooks and folders are needed. Monetary donations will be used to buy supplies. Linda Daniels of the City Prayer Team requests that donors contact her by Aug. 15. Send e-mail to linpray@att.net or call (330) 799-1713.

For more information, contact Pastor Rafael Cruz at (330) 783-0117 or Daniels.