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COLUMBUS — First United Methodist Church Columbus prayed over 30 young students and distributed free school supplies for all grade levels during its Blessing of the Backpacks service, Sunday, Aug. 2.
Pastor Sunshine Reyes led the congregation in praying for students as they prepared to begin a new school year. After the service, children and their families selected free school supplies from tables lined with crayons, note- books, disinfecting wipes and other classroom essentials.
“(When) you carry your backpack, you’re carrying more than school supplies,” church marketing committee member Brooke Bonorden said. “You’re carrying all those anxieties, all those worries, all those insecurities, and that’s the part people don’t see about going back to school.”
Bonorden said the church’s marketing committee received a $750 donation from the benevolence committee to purchase school supplies.
“It was very eye-opening when we went to purchase the school supplies. $750 did not go very far,” Bonorden said. “I think that was very eye-opening to us about the needs in the community for school supplies because they are very expensive.”
Reyes said the service brought many nonmembers, and she commended their bravery. She noted that many of them would be entering a new school or experiencing a different culture and language in their classes.
“This is a new beginning for a lot of them… This is a new place for them to come, and they’re here because their parents brought them here and because they need to be here,” Reyes said. “…To bless them, it’s just that heartfelt feeling. I want them to have a good year.”
Reyes said the moment reminded her of the struggles she faced growing up in the foster care system. Reyes was born on a Montana reservation, abandoned and moved between homes before being adopted at four.
“When I went up to first grade, I was newly adopted into a new family, and everything was new…I was very, very introvert,” Reyes said. “…We didn’t have things like this when I was growing up.”
Both Reyes and Bonorden said they would like the event to grow next year. Bonorden said this was the first time the church has hosted Blessing of the Backpacks since she joined in 2022.
“We were dependent on one committee to donate money, but I think as the congregation could see the need, I think the congregation will step in and contribute now,” Reyes said.
Bonorden said Columbus FUMC’s next community donation will be supplies for Columbus High School’s hygiene closest, especially students “might not be as comfortable receiving (those) in public and the needs for those arise at different times.”
The church will also be hosting the annual Colorado County Back to School Bash with free school and hygiene supplies, educational booths and resources, games and giveaways, snacks and more. The free family event will be on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Columbus FUMC, 419 Washington St., Columbus.
