Salvation Army give students backpacks, supplies

To the Editor:
During the week of Aug. 4-8, the Salvation Army carried out a program called Back to School Basics.
Eight hundred backpacks were filled with school supplies and other packets were prepared for the children in different grades.
I want to thank the many people who came together on Monday evening to pack the bags.
Other volunteers helped give out these backpacks on Tuesday and Wednesday in Shawnee and Seminole. You should have seen the smiles on the faces of the children as they received their backpacks.
Clothing vouchers were given to the families. Blue jeans seemed to be a favorite item.
One of the most significant and meaningful things we did was ask the parents if they had any prayer requests. Jobs, family members who were ill, a great beginning to the new year, were some of the requests. Each request was written down, brought to the chapel and were reverently raised to God.
These are families who live in our community. Many volunteers came together to help out neighbors. Thank you for your help and support. A special thanks to Walmart, Shawnee News-Star, Mike Askins at KGFF, and the Gideons who gave out wonderful New Testaments.
Eight hundreded backpacks were given to deserving children by the end of the week. I hope this school year will be a wonderful success for all the children and the teachers. We will continuously pray for you.
Cliff Lehmann
Salvation Army
Advisory Board