New Birth gives away 3,000 pairs of new shoes, other freebies to students at back-to-school event

STONCREST, GA–New Birth Missionary Baptist Church distributed 3,000 new pairs of shoes to metro Atlanta students at its annual back-to-school event, which was held today (Aug. 12) at the mega church’s campus in the city of Stonecrest.

New Birth and its community partners also gave away free socks, school supplies, tablets to needy students who qualified based on income, and hundreds of bicycles to those who were fortunate enough to receive a winning ticket.

Pastor Jamal Bryant, New Birth’s senior pastor, said the church hosts the annual event to ensure students had essentials to start off the school year. He thanked community partners and the army of volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this year’s event successful. He applauded New Birth members for their donations, saying said this year’s shoe giveaway exceeded the church’s goal.

“We are super excited and overwhelmingly grateful to have all of you here today. All of the shoes that were donated today were from members of our church—not from any celebrities, not from any athletes but from every day hard-working people that believe in your children. Our goal was to have 2,000 pairs of brand new back to school shoes. And today, I want to report to you today that we have 3,000 pairs of shoes.”

The pep rally-style event, which was held at the Bishop Eddie L. Long Family Life Center, included a bounce house and a miniature train ride for children to enjoy outside, where they were also treated free Italian ice cups.

Pastor Bryant told the children to enjoy their Italian ice treats because they must be focused on balanced meals for the school year.  He said too many children have diabetes, and he urged parents to monitor their children’s sugar intake, encouraging the children to exercise and go outside and ride their new bicycles.

Pastor Bryant also shared with families that New Birth would be providing free food boxes every other weekend, building on its monumental track record of giving away 1 million boxes of food during the pandemic. And he announced that New Birth is making available an online financial literacy program for parents.

“I want you to be positioned so that a year from now, you are not receiving. A year from now, you will be volunteering,” Pastor Bryant said.

Several elected officials came out to support the event including Mayor Jazzmin Cobble, Stonecrest City Councilwoman Tammy Grimes, DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, State Sen. Gloria Butler and representatives for DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox.