With back-to-school season just around the corner, families are gathering supplies, figuring out new schedules, and much more. The whole process can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are many ways your church can encourage and support families as they prepare to send their children back to school.

Here are eight ideas for back-to-school events:

#1 - Host a Back-to-School Fair

Gather supply lists from local schools and ask the congregation to donate those supplies or money to purchase them in bulk. From there, invite those within the congregation and community who need help with school supplies to attend a special event.

Here are a few ways to make this a fun school supplies event:

• Organize school supplies by school and grade level.
• Recruit volunteers from your children’s ministry so you know they’ll be great with kids and parents.
• Set up a few fun games for kids to have fun as their parents gather supplies.
• Ask a few hairstylists to volunteer free haircuts for each child and provide the area and supplies needed for that to happen at the event.
• Set up a craft table for kids to color and create while their parents gather supplies.
• Invite teachers from local schools to attend and meet some of their incoming students.
• Offer a free meal and snacks.

During the event, invite children and their parents to church by giving them information about your kids’ / youth ministry, worship times, church activities, and more.

#2 - Encourage Students during the School Year

Many of the children and youth in your church may participate in sports or other competitions with their school. 

Show up for them in a tangible way by attending some of their games or competitions.

Take signs to greet students and encourage them to do their best. Offer to provide water or snacks at their next practice. 

Come alongside parents and make sure they know their church family cares about them and that you’re there to cheer them on as they compete.

#3 - Be the Back-to-School Season Greeting Committee

Back-to-school season can be intimidating or overwhelming for many kids. Help students feel more at ease by welcoming them with familiar faces from church and greeting them on their first day of class.

Consider lining up youth leaders and volunteers like cheerleaders at a football game to welcome students on the first day. If your church has its own school, you could also change out the feather flags or light pole banners in the church parking lot to welcome families to the school.

#4 - Host a Back-to-School Party

Plan a fun family event after a church service one Sunday shortly before schools open in your area. Invite the congregation and community for a summer wrap-up and time to look forward to a new school year.

Here are several ideas for activities at the event:

• Serve a potluck meal
• Host a cookout, grilling hot dogs and burgers
• Set up an ice cream social
• Invite food trucks to set up in the church parking lot after Sunday services
• Set up a photo booth for fun family photos
• Provide a face-painting station
• Organize a few games like ring toss, corn hole, basketball, water slides (give parents information ahead of time so they can bring extra clothes for their kids), and more.

#5 - Coordinate a School Beautification Day

Talk with local school leaders to see if they need help preparing for a new school year. Projects may include:

• Cleaning up their outdoor playgrounds
• Setting up classrooms
• Picking up trash in the area immediately around the school.
• Decorating the front entrance to the school

Recruit church members to volunteer, provide any needed supplies (trash bags, gloves, water), and decide on the day and time for the event.

#6 - Provide Tutoring Services

Talk with teachers and principals to see if they know of students who need one-on-one tutoring. Find out what subjects or skill areas they typically need help with and let your congregation know about the need. 

Connect volunteer tutors with the school and coordinate where and when to provide tutoring services.

#7 - Launch Fall Youth Groups

At any back-to-school outreach you host, provide information about the church's youth groups that will launch in the fall. Have the youth pastor and other leaders attend these events so kids and their parents can interact with them beforehand. Provide students with flyers or social media posts they can use to invite friends to youth groups.

Encourage church families to bring their kids to youth group and to invite other parents in their neighborhood. Talk with new families about the upcoming youth group schedule and other church activities as well.

#8 - Adopt a Local School

As a church community, decide which school(s) to focus on serving in the upcoming school year. This may include coordination with the principal on service projects, build relationships with school staff, attend special events, provide tutors or after-school support, help out as crosswalk guards, volunteer as teacher's aides, or chaperon field trips.

More ideas include:

• Stock the teachers' lounge with supplies and snacks.
• Cater lunch as part of a teacher appreciation day.
• Spend time at school activities and events to show your support for the community and students.
• Include the school, its leadership team, teachers, and kids in weekly prayer reminders to the congregation.
• If your church is in a college town, consider adopting the college as well.
• Attend special holiday celebrations and provide volunteers to help.
• Write notes to encourage and thank school staff members.

By organizing ways for the congregation to help the community celebrate back-to-school season, serving those in need, and creating a fun event (or two) for students are great ways to be the hands and feet of Christ in your community. Make this upcoming school year a successful one for young people, your community, and your congregation.