Every year, we host our annual Backpack Distribution to provide students with the supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. Thanks to our ACE friends and family, we were able to equip 170 students across 30 schools, from infant/basic and primary schools, to high schools and special needs schools.
Depending on their needs, each child received pens, pencils, markers, crayons, composition notebooks, folders, glue sticks, a uniform, and in some cases, even shoes. For Jahvaun, a young boy who wears leg braces, the gift of two new pairs of Crocs from his sponsor brought the biggest smile to his face. His excitement was a powerful reminder of how something as simple as a new pair of shoes can make a world of difference.
But it’s not just the physical gifts in the bag that impact our students. What’s truly gifted in each bag is hope for the coming school year and a reminder that these children are loved by God!
Backpack Distribution is one of the busiest times of the year for our ACE staff and requires a lot of planning and coordination. From confirming each student’s school status to ensuring the right uniform materials are purchased (each school has its own specific color and shade), our team works tirelessly to make it all come together.
As usual, we faced several challenges. We encountered our normal challenges, such as parents forgetting to pick up school reports or needing reminders to attend their appointed distribution day. But this summer also brought a unique challenge — a gap in teams on our calendar left us short on backpacks. Our mission teams play a vital role in bringing school supplies and backpacks in their suitcases in preparation for Backpack Distribution. While this may have slowed our team down, it allowed us to prepare for the distribution with extra care. It also gave our staff time to focus on unfinished projects, like painting the campus and working on Mr. Brooks’ house.
Even still, we had an incredible blessing arise out of a tragedy. Following the tragic loss of Sam, a young man from the Rebel Ministries team, funds raised at his funeral were donated to ACE. These funds helped us purchase the remaining school supplies needed, turning a moment of sorrow into a blessing for the children of St. Mary. It’s a powerful reminder that God works everything out for good and His provision shines through, even in the face of challenges.
And praise God! The week went incredibly smoothly, and our parents expressed deep gratitude for the support they received.
Backpack Distribution may be over, but our work continues year-round. You can still support the children of St. Mary by donating to our Walmart and Target registries (linked here or through the buttons below), where you can purchase school supplies that ship directly to our staff to keep our students equipped throughout the year.
Thank you for continuing to support our children and help them thrive.
May God bless you all,
Althia
TRIP COST
There is an old proverb, “If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” History proves that lasting change in a poverty culture is achieved by empowering the people to reach their full potential and become self-sustaining. ACE is invested in our community long-term and in conjunction with our partners in the US, we are identifying the circumstances of those around us in order to find real solutions for their unique needs.