The LaSalle Parish Ministerial Alliance partnered for a fourth year with the A.P.P.L.E.S. (Assistance Program for People in the LaSalle Parish Education System) program to distribute over 70 backpacks of school supplies, clothes and shoes for PreK to 12th grade students across the parish last week at the media center in Jena.
The LaSalle Parish Ministerial Alliance partnered for a fourth year with the A.P.P.L.E.S. (Assistance Program for People in the LaSalle Parish Education System) program to distribute over 70 backpacks of school supplies, clothes and shoes for PreK to 12th grade students across the parish last week at the media center in Jena.
The A.P.P.L.E.S. program provided school supplies for those who qualified for the program while the ministerial alliance churches provided $100 worth of clothes and shoes for each student as well as school supplies. The ministerial alliance is made up of local pastors from various churches of different denominations and is funded by participating churches and some outside donations.
“APPLES is very appreciative to be partnering again with the LaSalle Ministerial Alliance to help meet our children’s back-to-school needs,” Homeless Liaison Missy McEntyre said. “I think it is so great that the people of our parish come together to help our kids. I have residents of other parishes call me often to ask for assistance. Neighboring parishes don’t have this type of event. We hope this additional assistance will help kids have a better jumpstart to the new school year.”
LaSalle Parish Ministerial Alliance member Pastor Heath Harris of Sanctuary Family Worship Center said all the families involved with the Back 2 School event applied through APPLES but not all qualify for the program.
“Unfortunately, APPLES often has to turn away applicants because they do not meet all their requirements of the program,” Harris said. “Our goal is to provide for those kids who don’t qualify and try to close the gap, so no one has to be turned away. The church sponsors gathered needed clothing and shoes for their sponsored children, and we put the items into backpacks along with school supplies for the families to pick up.”
Harris said the turnout this year was much lower than recent years with over 270 backpacks distributed in 2019, and he hopes next year more families will apply. He also said families interested in signing up for the Christmas drive this year should contact the ministerial alliance by October either through email, their website or their Facebook page.
The Back 2 School 2021 Sponsors are the following churches and businesses: Bellevue Baptist Church, L&A Missionary Baptist Church, Life Church LaSalle, Lifepoint Assembly of God, Midway Baptist Church, New Evergreen Baptist Church, Nolley Memorial Methodist Church, Pritchard Baptist Church, Prosperity Baptist Church, Sanctuary Family Worship Center, Searcy Baptist Church, Summerville Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church, Honeycutt Drug Store, Initially Blessed, The Jena Times and the Town & Country Garden Club.
“We would like to thank the churches, individuals and local businesses who sponsored this year’s Back 2 School event,” Harris said. “We are all praying for a great school year and we hope each family will find a church family where you can experience God’s love and walk in new life in Jesus Christ.”
For more information about the alliance and/or any of their ministries, call 318-992-0793 or email lasalle.alliance@gmail.com or find more information on their Facebook page, LaSalle Alliance, or website – www.lasallealliance.org
