A local organization is holding an event to help children-in-need in their return to school for the 2020-21 school year on the Kenai Peninsula, despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Love INC’s drive-through Back to School event will take place on Saturday, August 22 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Love INC on K-Beach in Soldotna.
The aim is to provide back-to-school essentials for students ahead of the Kenai Peninsula’s August 24 return to classes.
Love In the Name of Christ of the Kenai Peninsula, also known as Love INC, is an inter-denominational Christian organization that works with churches and agencies in the area to provide assistance to residents in-need. They network with over 80 churches on the Peninsula to provide information and direction to residents in-need, be it directions to a local food bank or clothes available in a church closet.
In a social media post, Love INC said that they struggled to decide when and how to do their annual Back to School event, but that they are going to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control to ensure that the event can go on safely. At the outdoor tent event, face masks will be worn and hand sanitizer and masks will be made available. It will be a drive-through service.
The organization asks for donations as this drive-through event will be providing basic essentials to fill-up backpacks for students. They are collecting and distributing school supplies for elementary, middle, or high school students. That is how they will have backpacks sorted, to ensure the drive-through effort will be as efficient as possible.
They advise that families with four or more children who plan to participate should call ahead of time at 262-5140 so that the organizers can prepare accordingly.
Donation of items will be needed by Friday, August 21, at 5:00 p.m. For those interested in helping out for the event in any capacity, Love INC asks that those parties contact Dee at 262-5177.
