Hundreds of school children will have backpacks and school supplies when Cincinnati Public Schools resume classes for 2023-2024 school year thanks to the 3rd Annual Day of Blessing Back to School Event that took place on July 29, 2023, from 1:00PM to 3:00PM at the Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church in Avondale.
The Day of Blessing event started in 2021 as an idea between Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church and Corinthian Baptist Church when the pastoral teams began brainstorming about the best way to help school children get back on their feet after being out of the classroom due to COVID. The idea blossomed and two other churches, Christ Memorial Baptist Church, and Allen Temple AME Church joined the collaboration.
That first year, the churches pooled resources and garnered sponsorship support to provide school-supply-filled backpacks, personal toiletries, hand sanitizer, socks, and gift cards to 500 families for free. When the event was over, there were still several more families that were waiting on supplies, so the churches knew they had to think bigger and better for the next event. By 2022, the event supplied backpacks and more to eight hundred families. Both years, the Day of Blessing was hosted at Corinthian Baptist Church in Bond Hill.
This year, the Day of Blessing was a collaboration between the Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist, Corinthian Baptist, Greater New Hope Baptist, Christ Memorial Baptist, and Zion Baptist Churches. Over 900 families were supplied with backpacks, feminine products, toiletries, and gift cards. The event also provided a first aid and health screening table, barbers, and hairstylists. Kids enjoyed a bouncy house, cotton candy and Day of Blessing long-time supporter, Kona Ice, provided snow cones. For the first time, families were able to have prayer with the pastors and church members for any prayer request in their hearts.
Each year, Day of Blessing is sponsored chiefly by United Way (who provides the backpacks and school supplies), and the Cincinnati chapter of the Community Action Agency. Other flagship sponsors include the Walker Funeral Home, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Mercy Health, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Delta Sigma Theta sororities.
Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist and Corinthian Baptist will continue to grow their partnership to impact Cincinnati communities and provide free resources to as many families as possible.
If you would like to be a Sponsor or vendor for next year’s event, please contact the following:
Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church
3660 Washington Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Website: http://www.shilohsda513.org
Email: shilohsda513@gmail.com
Phone: (513) 961-5684
Corinthian Baptist Church
1920 Tennessee Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45237
Website: http://www.cbc-c.com
Email: Info@CBC-C.com
Phone: (513) 221-7351