The opening of a new school year is right around the corner, and the Child Evangelism Fellowship is hoping to help provide some of the basic school supplies that some parents can't afford to provide their children.

Illness in the family, a parent being unemployed, or other such hardships can prevent many children from beginning a successful school year, CEF officials say.

Child Evangelism Fellowship is working on its third annual "Back-2-School Baggies" program. Fellowship members hope to fill the baggies with one package of No. 2 pencils, one package of wide-ruled paper, two 2-pocket folders, one package of colored pencils, two glue sticks, one pocket-sized package of tissue, one 12-inch ruler, one box of crayons, one pair of blunt-end scissors and one marble composition book.

This year CEF will be partnering with Compassion in Action to "Pack A Bus" at Wal-Mart from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, July 28. Radio station WORG will be there doing a live remote as they try to pack the bus with school supplies to fill the "Back-2-School Baggies" and distribute them to the primary and elementary schools in Orangeburg School Districts 4 and 5 and Bamberg School District 1. The baggies will be distributed to the schools the week of Aug. 13-17.

Last year with the support of the community and area churches, CEF was able to fill 1,200 baggies. This year the goal is to fill 1,500.  Organizers say they would like to see every child begin a successful school year from the very first day of school.

School supplies can be dropped off at the Child Evangelism Fellowship office at 382 Broughton St. through Aug. 3, as well as at Wal-Mart this Saturday. Financial contributions can also be designated for the "Back-2-School Baggies" program.

For more information, contact Tina at CEF at 803-535-0061 or send an e-mail to tinacef@bellsouth.net.

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