This weekend we had the amazing job of partying with our neighborhood kids and sharing school supplies with them in preparation for the new school year.

We couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you so much for sewing bags, sending supplies, and donating to our kids. It was truly a joy to see their delight as they rummaged through their supplies and dreamed about their year.

But we know school supplies are only the beginning. In Philadelphia, public school students have scored below the national average and the average for large cities on both math and reading. We know our kids need support beyond the first day.

That’s why last year, we initiated our Reading Club to encourage our young readers with fun and literacy. They explored new books and read aloud from plays. It was a time to build relationships, but also to invest in their futures.

Education is a valuable tool. Students who graduate high school are more likely to find jobs and earn a living wage than those who do not complete school. Reading is an essential foundation, and we want to promote education early in our kids’ lives.

And we want celebrate with and support those who have done the work and are ready to go to college. Our Scholars Program partners with Eastern University, which provides annual scholarships for students in our neighborhood. We are so proud each time one of them walks across that stage!

None of these education efforts would be possible without your generous support. Thank you so much for giving to The Simple Way and investing in the students who live in our community. God bless you!