By Staci Jones | The Selma Times-Journal

First Baptist Church of Orrville hopes to get students ready for the new school year with its second annual Back to School Book Bag Giveaway.

The event is for kindergarten through 12th grade students and will allow parents to save money on school supplies by providing students with a backpack full of items they can use during the school year.

The backpacks will include supplies such as paper, pens, pencils, folders, glue and rulers. They will also have crayons and hand sanitizer for the elementary school students who come out.

Event coordinator and church member Michelle Coleman says that the event was created because of a need in the church and community.

“We have single parents in our church and in the community. We know that it is hard for them to get the supplies themselves, which is why we do this. We know that we can’t help everyone, but we get better every year. The first year we gave out 150 book bags. This year we will hand out 250,” Coleman said.

She said the church hopes the backpacks will give the students a head start on upcoming school year and also keep students eager to learn.

“We focus our youth ministry on education. We want to show them just how important it is. I’ve noticed that the more we do for the children of the community, the more they want to participate in our children’s church and programs,” Coleman said.

First Baptist Church hosts a children’s church every Wednesday night. Coleman encourages parents in the area to bring their children.

The event will be Saturday, Aug. 1. It will start at 7 a.m. and last until 9 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 211 County Road 121 in Orrville.