9 Ways Your Church Can Support Schools, Students, Parents and Teachers

When summer winds down, families and teachers get ready for another school year. For many, stocking up on new school supplies and clothing isn’t easy—or even possible. Become a friendly resource to families, teachers and school administrators by offering support —not only as that first day approaches, but all year long. Here are nine ways to get started: 

1. Host a back-to-school carnival that includes games and inflatables plus free hot dogs and hamburgers. Include some live music and offer a school-supply giveaway. Invite everyone in the neighborhoods around your church or carnival location using personal invitations, postcards and/or doorhangers. 
2. Help low-income families get ready for school by taking in donations and then giving away shoes, clothing and underwear, along with backpacks stuffed with school supplies.
3. Partner with a couple local businesses to provide free back-to-school haircuts, eye exams,bicycle tun-ups etc…for local families. Host the event in your parking lot on a Saturday and offer lunch and snow cones. Put up an outdoor banner the week before to promote the event. 
4. The week before school starts, host a 30-minute back-to-school prayer service for parents, teachers and school administrators. Partner with local businesses to offer gift cards for lunches, school supplies or other items your local teachers may need or appreciate. 
5. Purchase $5 gift cards to the nearest coffee shop and then take a team from your church to visit the nearby schools to distribute the cards to teachers and administrators. Be sure to take time to talk with teachers and provide an open invitation to contact you or visit your church anytime. 

Or similarly, start a tab at your local coffee shop so that teachers from your area schools can get a free coffee on your church during the first week of school.

1. On the Sunday before school starts, encouraged parents and kids alike to wear their school uniforms or t-shirts. Invite teachers, coaches and administrators to come and have the children and teachers come forward for a special blessing for the new year. .
2. Adopt a school in your area and work with the school administrator to help with needed improvements to the school grounds, in the classrooms or to provide missing equipment or school supplies. 
3. Welcome back teachers and administrators at your local school by delivering treats, like doughnuts and coffee to the teacher’s lounge during the first week of school. Or serve your school all year by putting together a team of volunteers who offer breakfast or lunch at the school once a month all year. 
4. Take a six-hour workshop through the National Church Adopt-A-School and learn the building blocks for offering social services to urban youth and their families, along with the process for adopting public schools and creating programs such as school-based mentoring. To sign up or learn more, visit ChurchAdoptASchool.org.