Janes Memorial United Methodist Church presents their Start Smart, Stay Smart Free backpack and School supplies giveaway!

On Saturday, Sept. 12th, from 11am to 2pm, Janes Memorial United Methodist Church presents its 10th Annual Start Smart event at the church, located at 47 East Haines Street in Germantown, just east of Germantown Ave., right behind the former Germantown High School. Free backpacks loaded with school supplies will be distributed to area schoolchildren.

Start Smart is part of Start Smart, Stay Smart, started 10 years ago by the late visionary Nadene Partlow, a longtime member of Janes, who saw and endeavored to fill the need to help educate the children in Janes’ community, many of whom are economically disadvantaged. Janes’ leaders, including Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Andrew L. Foster lll and its members, think of the church as a community resource, and believe that education is the surest path to a bright future for the youth of the surrounding community. The Start Smart event helps children start the new school year off with all the supplies they need, then, in January, another event, Stay Smart, replenishes their supplies. Janes Memorial’s Start Smart Committee also solicits area merchants and businesses for help with donations and other needed assistance.

There’s a lot more to Start Smart than just a book bag giveaway. Events actually begin on Friday, Sept. 7th, at the church, with a free showing of ”Annie,” starring Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhane Wallis. Then, on Friday, Sept. 11th, the annual Start Smart Revival Service is held at the church at 6:30pm. At Saturday, Sept. 12th’s Start Smart event, there will be entertainment, a free lunch for the children, educational and health information for parents and speakers who will inform and motivate. Mr. Thom Page of Philadelphia’s Freedom Theater will be among those speaking to the children and their parents. At the conclusion of the program, the backpacks filled with composition books, notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers and more will be distributed. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

For information, please call the church at 215 844 9564.

Jerome C. (Jerry) Wells

Janes Memorial UMC Publicity Committee

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