This June, we're helping prepare for a Back-to-School Resource Fair that will serve more than 100 immigrant and refugee families from Chesterfield, Henrico, and Richmond. Held in July, the Fair offers a warm, shopping-style experience where parents and children can choose the supplies they need for a strong start to the school year.

To make it possible, we're collecting new socks and sneakers for students from elementary through high school.

What's Needed:

• New socks: kids' medium and large; adult small and medium

• New sneakers/tennis shoes for boys and girls, sizes Youth 8 through Adult 9

Deadline: Bring items to the church by July 5th.

This July, we're partnering with Voices of Jubilee, a community of pastors and volunteers who walk alongside incarcerated youth and their families. Each year, Voices of Jubilee delivers 300 Christmas packages to young people in area detention centers, and River Road UMC is helping fill them.

Beginning Sunday, July 5, stop by the Christmas Trees in the Welcome Center or Narthex, choose a gift tag, and pick up that item to donate. Your gift will remind a young person that they are not forgotten.

What's Needed:

• Personal care items (specifics listed on gift tags)

• $25 Visa gift cards

Deadline: Bring items to the church by July 31st.

In August, we're partnering with 28:19 Ministries to host a school-supply store right here at River Road UMC. The store will serve English-language learners who gather at nearby Cornerstone Church, with families representing 13 different countries choosing the supplies their children need for the new school year.

River Road UMC will support this effort by providing school supplies, opening our facilities and playground, and offering volunteer opportunities for hands-on involvement.

What's Needed:

• School supplies (full list available at the church)

• $25 Visa gift cards

Deadline: Bring items to the church by August (date TBD).