Mission of Hope helps kids in need get back to school right

The beginning of the school year is one of the busiest times for the Mission of Hope, as hundreds of volunteers take back-to-school supplies to thousands of children in the mountains of Appalachia.

There's a lot of love wrapped up with those crayons, pencils, and paper.

The welcome is obvious inside Winfield Elementary School in Scott County.

"They are wonderful people, and we're delighted to have them to come. We welcome them with open arms," Principal Sharon Stanley said.

A trailer full of boxes is unloaded by Mission of Hope volunteers from Gist Greek Baptist Church in Sevier County. Boxes and boxes of supplies are brought into the gym, opened, and unpacked.

There are stacks of backpacks, paper, scissors, glue, pencils, crayons, folders, and hygiene supplies--all piled high.

The 240 students file into the gym, the older students expectant and the younger ones unsure but wide-eyed and curious.

Joy Havlin, the leader of this group of volunteers, explains why the Mission of Hope has come to Winfield.

"To let you know that we love you and we support you and we want you to start your school year off right," Havlin told the students.

The kids form a line, and each of the children is assisted by a Mission of Hope volunteer, who helps them choose their supplies.

"One of these back-packs, baby," a volunteer said.

"Here's you some crayons and some pencils."

"I have a lot!" the boy said, happily.

"You want yellow, blue or red?" another volunteer said, helping her student pick scissors. He opts for red.

Somewhere between 92 and 93 percent of the kids at Winfield are on free or reduced-price lunches That's one of the highest rates in the state.

Many of the parents can't afford the basics, like pencils and paper. Enter the Mission of Hope.

"It's going to fill up a lot of empty cubbies in our classroom," kindergarten teacher Jessica Chambers said.

Little Danielle Horn can tell you exactly what's going to be in her cubby: "Toothpaste and scissors and crayons and pencils and a lot more stuff is there."

Pictures were taken to preserve the moment, and the children headed back to their classrooms, well supplied and ready for classes.

The Mission of Hope is completing its back-to-school deliveries this week after taking supplies to more than 10,000 children.