Pictured, Sarah Spoonhower with her daughter, Payten Sharp show off her new backpack.
The Tioga County Open Door Mission, a local faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization, distributed backpacks filled with school supplies to families in need with children in kindergarten through sixth grade enrolled in Waverly, N.Y. at The Red Door on Friday, Aug. 21.
The Open Door Mission also held its Annual Back-To-School Bash in Owego on Saturday, Aug. 22, offering haircuts, games and entertainment and refreshments, as well as backpacks filled with school supplies and snacks to children grades kindergarten through sixth enrolled in Tioga County schools, excluding Waverly.
Their Back-To-School events help to reduce the stress and anxiety that families feel due to financial struggle at the beginning of the school year by replacing it with some fun, excitement, and a feeling of looking forward to the year ahead.
Providing a safe, comfortable, and fun atmosphere for families, they were able to meet some basic needs, making “children with less” feel special and positive about their start for the school year; fostering self-esteem and setting the students up for success.
The Open Door Mission and The Red Door are so grateful for community support from the Floyd Hooker Foundation as well as generous donations from Tioga Downs, the Police Benevolent Association and private donors.
Volunteers from Girl Scout Troop 40234 (Karissa Adams-Swansbrough, Katelyn Strickland and Gabrielle Woodruff) pose in front of the “School Bus Toss” game.
The Tioga County Open Door Mission has been devoted to serving the community through their food pantries, homeless shelter, and outreach programs since 1968. Continued support from the community allows them to extend their outreach efforts and make a step towards creating meaningful change in the community and the lives of the children.
If you have any questions about these outreach programs, feel free to call or visit them at their Waverly location, The Red Door Thrift Store and Community Center located at 359 Broad St. in Waverly, N.Y. or call (607) 249-6062; or the Tioga County Open Door Mission located at 425 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y. or call (607) 687-1121.
