MARYSVILLE – There are 25,000 pencils, 2,000 boxes of crayons and 10,000 glue sticks.
It’s enough to outfit a small army of children as they get ready for school in September.
And it’s free.
Fifteen area churches have teamed up to provide school supplies and haircuts to children in kindergarten through 12th grades, part of an annual tradition started by Turning Point Community Church in Marysville.
Mayor Dennis Kendall said the program helps children from lower-income families get the same stuff their other classmates will have when the school year starts.
“It’s incredible that all of these churches have gotten together to put this together,” he said.
Organizers expect as many as 10,000 children at Sunday’s eighth annual Summer Jubilee.
The event started as a way for the nondenominational church to give back to the community, event coordinator Judi Johnston said.
She said the church’s founders – Pastor Mike and Cindy Villamor – realized there was a need for free school supplies.
The first year, the church threw a potluck and gave away 50 sets of paper, crayons and scissors and a few backpacks, Johnston said.
“We were so grateful for the way God blessed us,” she said. “We knew there was a need in the community.”
Over the years, the event has grown in size and sophistication.
Now, local businesses help the church through event sponsorships. The Marysville Fire Department participates, as do state and local officials, such as Kendall.
This year, for the first time, Turning Point has joined with other churches of many denominations to host the event, Johnston said.
Sunday’s event will feature live music, a wild animal show, a free barbecue and more, she said.
Last year, 2,100 students got free supplies and 370 walked away with fresh haircuts.
This year, organizers will have enough school supplies for almost five times as many kids and enough stylists to give twice as many haircuts.
“For a lot of people in the church, this is our favorite day of the year,” Johnston said. “The day comes and I just feel like I’m carried by the breath of God.”
Eighth annual Summer Jubilee, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Marysville Junior High School, Asbery Field, 1605 Seventh St.
Children in grades K-12 can get free school supplies and haircuts.
For more information, go to http://summerjubilee.info or call 360-653-1822.
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