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Health & Fitness

Campbell Church is Helping Kids

Local church helping local kids going back to school this August.

Back-to-School is a booming retail enterprise. 

The aisles of Target and Wal-Mart are already - in mid-July - filled with signage and end-cap displays full of colorful backpacks and lunchboxes and erasers and pencils and markers and binders and all that is required of a student to go back to school.

It's a pricey business. Schools no longer have the budgets to provide supplies for their students, so students are required to supply their own. 

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Add up the cost of an elementary student's required kit - and this is conservative - and you're looking at $20+ per child. That may not seem like a lot to some of you, but to some, it is a lot. And when there are multiple kids to outfit for school, it's even more. This doesn't even take into account the cost of required school uniforms that are now the norm in public and private schools alike.

Here in Campbell, a local church is trying to "lighten the load" for some of the families in our area. The Campbell Church of Christ is gearing up for their fourth annual Backpack Giveaway this August. Open to the general public, kids from elementary through high school can come by the church campus on Saturday, August 18 between 1:30 and 3pm and select one  of 11 backpack styles that will be offered. Then they can fill that pack with the school supplies they need - all arranged, on display and hosted by friendly and helpful volunteers.

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"We'll have over 400 backpacks available to give away this year," says Children's Minister Garry Bortz, "which is more than we've ever had before."

"This is a gift to the local community from our church family," says Mr. Garry. "Our desire is that every child and every family who comes to this event leaves feeling that they are important, because they are - every child matters. We just want to be part of helping make sure that happens."

School supplies and backpacks are donated by the members of the Campbell church, KidZone Children's Ministry, and families from Campbell Christian School.

To receive a free backpack, families may simply show up on August 18 between 1:30 and 3pm. One backpack per child present, and a selection of school supplies to choose from, while supplies last. Plus, there will be bounce houses for the kids and free refreshments for those waiting in line.

Construction and Parking: Those in the immediate neighborhood off of Victor and Campbell Avenue may have noticed the construction taking place at the church campus. Visitors on the day of the event should watch for parking instructions posted at the intersection of Victor and Campbell. Parking for the disabled and those with very young children will be available on a limited basis in the main church parking lot off Hedegard Avenue. 

If you'd like to help lighten the load of a local child going back-to-school, donations of new, un-used school supplies may be brought to the Campbell Church office weekdays between 9 and 4pm. For a complete list of what's needed, please call 408.378.4900. 

The Campbell Church of Christ is located at 1075 West Campbell Avenue, at Victor and Campbell Avenue, between San Tomas Expressway and San Tomas Aquino Road. Parking is available off of Victor and Hededgard Avenue. 

The Campbell Church is a great place for kids and families! For more information on news and events, check out their Facebook page.

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