If you’re disheartened by some of the things taking place around the country and the world these days, just look at what’s happening at Wayland Baptist Church, 306 Clifford Seals Ave.

Dozens of volunteers turned out Saturday, Aug. 2, to help the church distribute school supplies to more than 200 students.

In addition to the supplies, the church handed out free hotdogs and chips, ice cream and cookies and cold beverages.

And for the first time, the Wayland and Community Culture Church joined forces to hand out free clothes.

All of this would not be possible without volunteers, and without donations from generous people and individuals.

“This year we’ve had more donations than we have ever had. I don’t know what it is. People just want to donate and contribute this year.

“Community Culture Church partnered with us, and they also had a collection box at their church,” said Chinea Rockwell, who has overseen this program for eight of its 11 years. “The Carlton Landing church gave a thousanddollar donation, the biggest donation we’ve ever had from one individual church.”

Last year more than 200 backpacks were given out.

“This year 220 backpacks were donated. Hopefully, we’ll give them out but if we don’t give them out today, we’re going to give them out to people that call us, so we’ll still give them out.

“We also donate to the schools afterwards, too.”

Students who lined up at Saturday’s event came from all over. Mostly from Eufaula, but also from Checotah, McAlester, Canadian, Crowder, Stidham and Hanna.

“It was one of our best years!” Chinea said.

Ladies from the VFW came out, as they always do, the Thursday before the event and helped fill the backpacks and organize the donations, and Chaney’s Pizza donated pizza to feed them.

Brenda Garrison from the McIntosh County Health Department was there and passed out information and gave away swag.

Special thanks also to: God’s Helping Hands United Methodist Women Bank of Eufaula Mcalester Pepsi Mcalester Sonic Mcalester Walls Sulphur Springs Baptist Church JC & Frankie Watts Eufaula Quarterback Club Eufaula VFW