By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A glance between the pine trees at the Bucyrus United Methodist Church Outreach Center Thursday afternoon would have transported you to a carnival-like atmosphere complete with a dunk tank, water games, and prizes.
The crowded lawn of the Outreach Center was not simply a place for children to have fun; it also served as an information fair for parents and the basement of the church operated as command central for the hundreds of school supplies made available to the children.
The Bucyrus United Methodist Church is in its eighth year of hosting the Back to School Supply Carnival and Info Fair and every year it keeps getting bigger and bigger. Now serving the Bucyrus, Colonel Crawford, and Wynford school districts, the carnival provides free basic supplies from the schools’ classroom lists for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Volunteers directed parents to the registration table where they would fill out cards, were given numbers, and then encouraged to take advantage of the information and games on the lawn. When a set of numbers were called, the parents were directed into the Outreach Center and down to the basement where 350 totes awaited the children.
“It’s fantastic what the info fair vendors are now taking upon themselves to do,” said Randy Moore Garrett, general coordinator of the event.
She pointed out that not only were they providing information to the parents, but also had tokens, backpacks, and school supplies to win. Some of the hair salons in town provided combs while dentists donated toothbrushes and toothpaste. The biggest draw was the 30 bicycles donated the day before the event, which were given away all afternoon.
Garrett added that the American Legion Auxiliary is collecting paper towels, hand sanitizers, Clorox wipes, and tissues through August and will donate all the supplies to the Bucyrus Elementary School on behalf of the carnival kids.
Sally Ruth, a member of the church and the woman in charge of organizing all the supplies, was proud of what the church has been able to put together.
“I love it because I love to see the kids that I have taught or are going to teach or the other kids that are their friends in the community get a backpack full of supplies and be able to smile and pray over their year,” said Ruth, a teacher at Wynford Elementary. “I think it’s just awesome to put a smile on their face, to show them that they’re loved, to be the hands and feet of God by providing these things.
“It’s awesome,” Ruth added. “I look forward to it. It’s a lot of work – every year I look forward to doing this.”
“I am overwhelmed by how people are willing to help out,” Garrett said. “It’s worth it. It’s not the kids’ fault that their folks don’t have the money that they need. These kids already feel like second-class citizens at school because they get different treatment.”
The Back to School Supply Carnival helps to close that gap, allowing the children to show up to school with totes and brand name school supplies. Another special aspect of the event was the ability to give children a free outfit from God’s Open Clothing Closet.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the Bucyrus Fire Department were also on hand to interact with the children.
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