Members of the Grace Covenant Church know that being prepared for the first day school is of the utmost importance to a young child.

"Showing up to school and not having the same supplies as everybody else in the classroom, not only makes them feel self conscious, but it puts them at a deficit," said member Marta Szuba.

Associate Pastor John Eiker said they don't have every item but they want to help them have some extra pencils, or even a pencil if they didn't have one.

The church has helped children from the Sears Hill District of the city for the past six months. Members felt they needed to lend a hand after the Nelson Street Teen Center lost its funding.

"The elementary school is Bessie Weller, and there's a larger proportion of students there who are getting free and reduced lunch," said Eiker. "Which, typically means economically they're at a different level than a lot of people are."

"All children, no matter who they are and where they come from need to have support," followed Szuba. "That is the chief thing that every faith community should be doing is supporting all children no matter what their circumstances are."

The church has worked to incorporate the families of the children they help. They want to work together with parents to give the kids the best future possible.

"By being there and standing in the gap for those children, we are enabling everybody to become the best they can," said Szuba.

"We're not trying to step in an be the parent, we're just trying to enable those parents to be able to do what they need to do."

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