Celebrating Children: Back to School Fair at Isaiah 58 Ministries

Isaiah 58 Ministries’ annual Back-to-School event, held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2024, was a day filled with activities and resources for the whole family.

With the support of many St. Louis-area churches, organizations and local agencies, Isaiah 58 Ministries was able to help prepare more than 200 children and their families for the upcoming school year. Many essentials children need for a successful year in school were distributed, including backpacks and school supplies, as well as socks and underwear. Each child also received a gift card to a local shoe store to start their year off with a new pair of shoes.

Eye exams were offered through the Delta Gamma Center, which offers free eye exams to people in the Greater St. Louis area; lead testing was offered through the City Health Department; and haircuts were available by students from Leonard’s Barber College.

Several agencies provided a variety of information and resources for families, while supporting congregations provided games and other activities for the children.

Children enjoyed painting rocks for the Isaiah 58 Ministries rock garden and helping out with the Isaiah 58 Ministries community art project.

One of the biggest hits was the petting zoo. Children and adults alike enjoyed cuddling with a variety of animals, including a goat, a miniature donkey, a baby cow, a pig, and a turtle, among others.

There were so many smiling faces, so many wonderful resources, and so many incredible volunteers that helped make it a great success.