Scores of families benefit from back-to-school church initiative

More than 100 children and their families received assistance on Saturday as Prophetic Prayer Protocol Ministries International (PPPMI) hosted a back-to-school and wellness event to help families prepare for the new school term.

Co-pastor Prophetess Cheriann Marshall said the initiative went beyond school supplies, with organisers also providing health checks and personal hygiene items.

“Today we are giving back to over 100 children, school supplies, backpacks, stationery and essential school supplies. We’re also giving back school clothing, teenage hygiene packs for the teenage girls and also hygiene packs for the teenage boys,” she told Barbados TODAY, during the activity at Arjay Complex, Silver Hill, Christ Church.

Marshall said attendees also had access to free cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and Body Mass Index checks.

“We are gifting 15 women with free breast examinations; all others after that pay only $20,” she said.

Senior pastor Apostle Kevin Marshall said the initiative grew out of the needs the church witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We saw the need of the people. We saw that persons were actually going through difficult times as it relates to groceries and different things like that,” he said.

Marshall said the church sought to be an extension of Christ by addressing not only people’s spiritual needs, but their wider welfare.

He said the back-to-school initiative began on a small scale but was expanded this year after organisers realised that some families had previously been turned away because of limited resources.

The initiative received donations from Evangelist Diane Holder of Fire Missions Ministry International, members of Faithful and True Witness Apostolic Church Ministries, Robinson Luxury Automobile Services and members of PPPMI.

Apostle Marshall said the church’s commitment to assisting people in need extends beyond the back-to-school season.

He added that the church also collaborates with farmers to source meat and other items for distribution to families.

“We have been doing that all year round; it’s not a one-time-of-the-year thing. As a matter of fact, around Christmas time, we normally hand-deliver hams, chickens and turkeys,” Marshall said.

He urged more people to support such efforts, noting that the need remains significant.