Before the Bus
It’s back-to-school time, which means it’s also “Before the Bus” time. One More Child held annual Before the Bus events in six different locations—Bradenton, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami, and Lakeland. At each of these events, children and families from the community gathered for family fun and received school supplies. Multiple locations also had activities like a bounce house, gaga ball, balloon artists, and more.
These events served children and families in One More Child programs, including Foster Care, Anti-Trafficking, Single Moms, and Family Support. At the Before the Bus event in Lakeland, the Anti-Trafficking team also had the opportunity to provide resources and education on internet safety to families. Children could also complete a worksheet and be entered into a raffle to win prizes! The Lakeland Before the Bus event impacted 73 families and 232 children, each of whom received a backpack with 10-15 school supplies.
Every location reached vulnerable children in their area and ensured that these children had what they needed to start the school year strong. The Azinger Family Compassion Center in the Bradenton area impacted over 100 families and provided 300 backpacks filled with school supplies. One of the families at this location was a Ukrainian family with 20 children, including foster children—they expressed immense gratitude for all the support they have received since arriving in the United States.
In Jacksonville, Before the Bus served 100 kids with 42 individuals who volunteered their time to make this experience as enjoyable as possible with Chick-fil-A, a bounce house, popcorn, a balloon artist, and more. The Miami team reached 50 students and provided 1,240 school supplies.
In total, the Before the Bus events reached more than 170 families and over 482 children. They also distributed upwards of 6,240 school supplies and 500 backpacks. We pray God will protect and bless all the children entering school this year!
Struggling parents, foster parents, and single moms often face unique challenges as they seek to help their children succeed in school. At One More Child, our desire is for all children to have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
Our Family Support program is designed to come alongside struggling families and provide support services that meet needs, equip parents, and strengthen families.
