SPRING BAY—With an ever bigger need this year, the Spring Bay Pentecostal Church is spearheading an Island wide church effort to raise enough funds to purchase 362 backpacks to be given out to students in schools across Manitoulin this fall. As of last Wednesday, half of the $6,000 needed has been raised thus far.
“At the end of the 2023 school year, we called all the Island schools to gauge the needs of students in all schools for backpacks,” stated Pastor Jamie Greenwood of Spring Bay Pentecostal Church. “We were able to raise a little over $4,000 in providing 160 students with backpacks as well as educational supplies.” He said a lot of the funds were raised at a concert pastors around Manitoulin put on last summer.
“We were not able to get everyone together to do a concert this year,” said Pastor Greenwood.
“This year we have set a goal of providing 362 backpacks and we need to raise $6,000,” said Pastor Greenwood. As for why the need is so much greater this year he said, “I think it is a combination of a lot of things. Everything, including food and prices for things are more expensive, so families are finding it more difficult.”
“At this point we are halfway to our goal of raising enough for 362 backpacks,” said Pastor Greenwood. He pointed out, “our main goal is to provide students with backpacks and lunch boxes.” He said those interested can also make physical donations of such things as pencils, crayons, markers, notebooks, folders, binders, rulers, USBs, calculators and math tools.
“If someone wants to pledge money or send a cheque we would welcome that,” he said noting the church is hoping to purchase the backpacks within a week toward providing them for the students as they begin school in early September.
Those wishing to make a monetary donation can do so by sending a cheque to Spring Bay Pentecostal Church, e-transfers to springbaychurch@gmail.com debit or credit card spchjurch.ca or for more information or to drop off physical donations call 705-377-5060.
