Backpacks, Blessings, and Bible Studies: Tulare Adventist Church Reaches 190 Children in Back-to-School Giveaway

TULARE, Calif. – On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the Tulare Seventh-day Adventist Church transformed its grounds into a hub of joy, community, and ministry during its Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway. The event, designed to equip students for the upcoming school year, drew more than 190 children—each leaving with a fully stocked backpack and a smile.

More than just a distribution of school supplies, the giveaway became a Spirit-led outreach effort that opened new doors for connection. Roughly 70% of attendees were non-members, and half had never before stepped inside an Adventist church. These first-time encounters created opportunities for prayer, personal invitations to worship services, and even the beginnings of Bible study enrollment. One guest signed up for correspondence Bible studies on the spot, while several others expressed interest in returning for Sabbath services.

The church partnered with Adventist Health Tulare, which provided additional backpacks and school supplies, extending the event’s reach. Special appreciation was given to Jan Smith, whose collaboration helped ensure no child left empty-handed.

While much of the turnout came through word of mouth, digital outreach played a significant role in the event’s success. A modest, three-day Facebook and Instagram ad campaign—costing only $46—generated more than 505 clicks and over 220 total registrations. Organizers estimate that 60% of attendees learned about the giveaway through social media, underscoring the value of digital evangelism in today’s ministry landscape.

Church members reflected on the day with gratitude and excitement for future community engagement:

Michele Patterson, Church Elder: “Seeing so many smiles on these kids’ faces was a huge blessing. Thank you, church, for your continued support and prayer.” Nancy Silva, Prayer Coordinator: “We had so many people filling out prayer requests. I can’t wait to bring these names to our Wednesday prayer meeting.” Betty Dykstra, Church Treasurer: “This project was such a success—I’m already planning a Thanksgiving food basket giveaway and looking into sponsoring families through Angel Tree for Christmas!”

Pastor Dnieper Vega shared his own reflections, saying, “It was such a joy to connect with people who normally wouldn’t walk into our church. We prayed with them, invited them back, and shared Jesus with them. I believe the seeds planted this week will lead to future decisions for Christ.”

The Tulare SDA Church praises God for the success of this outreach and hopes their experience will inspire other congregations within the Central California Conference to organize similar events—meeting physical needs while planting seeds of faith.