Local church distributes school supplies, hosts Gospel concert

By Lena Price, Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 3:56 PM CDT
www.lewisvilleleader.com

Piles of notebooks, pencils, markers and construction paper covered the floor of an office inside the Grace Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday.

By the end of the church’s fourth annual Back to School Gospel Explosion, volunteers had distributed almost all of the supplies to local students.

In addition to offering free school supplies, the Lewisville Police and Fire Departments, Christian Community Action and several other organizations set up booths at the event. They provided the students with information about everything from Internet safety to life after high school.

The Back to School Gospel Explosion ended with concert featuring the DFW Mass Youth Choir as well as praise dancers and Christian rappers.

Kim Teamer, the event’s organizer, said she came up with the idea about four years ago to help provide children and their parents with useful information about community services available to them.

“Before students can get their supplies, they need to stop at each of the stations and listen to the presentations,” Teamer said.

About 65 kindergarten through 12th grade students registered for the program and received school supplies. The information seminar included activates for children of all ages.

“This year, we weren’t really equipped to handle more than the number of students that we had,” Teamer said. “But next year, I really want to make it a city-wide event and invite upwards of 2,000 kids.”

The Lewisville Police Department has participated in the event for three out of the past four year. On Saturday, LISD resource officers Howard Clark and Vince Stewart gave a presentation about what to do when someone is being bullied and how much personal information is safe to post online.

“We’re here to teach you that your actions have long term consequences,” Clark said. “Even if you make a mistake when you’re still young, it could keep you from getting a job or into college in the future.”

Representatives from Christian Community Action hosted a life after high school seminar that encouraged students to write their goals out on paper and develop a plan to follow them.

Charlotte Thomas said the seminar, along with the rest of the event, benefited her 10th grade son.

“My son really needed to hear a voice other than my own tell him that there are things to think about beyond high school,” Thomas said. “And I think this event really provided that.”

Eighth-grader Alexus Garrett said the life after high school seminar made her realize how hard she would have to get into UCLA, her dream school.

“I think this made us think about more than just being kids,” Garrett said.