By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — The Moore County Resource Center is putting out an urgent, last-minute call for help ahead of its annual Back to School Wellness Event on Saturday, August 1, at Wiseman Park. More than 50 students who applied for the program still don’t have a sponsor to cover the last piece of what they’ll need to start the school year: a new pair of shoes and an outfit.

The Resource Center already has backpacks, school supplies, hygiene packs and snack packs ready to go for every student in the program. What’s missing is the community’s help getting each child something new to wear on the first day.

HOW THE SPONSORSHIP WORKS

The program uses a simple system to connect students with sponsors: a paper apple, cut from red or green construction paper, hangs on a tree at each of three participating banks. Each apple represents one student still waiting for a sponsor. The apples left on the tree signals which students still need help — organizers say the remaining apples, still hanging heavy on the branches, represent the more than 50 children not yet claimed.

To help, residents are asked to stop by one of the three bank locations, pick an apple off the tree, and use it as a guide to buy that student a new pair of shoes and an outfit before Saturday. The Resource Center says it will handle everything else — the backpack, supplies, snacks and hygiene items are already set aside for every child in the program.

“First impressions are really important,” the Resource Center said in its appeal, “and we want everyone to enjoy starting school this year with new kicks and a new outfit. We want everyone to fit in.”

The MCRS Apple Trees are located at the Jack Daniel Employee Credit Union, First Community Bank, and Farmers Bank

For residents who want to contribute but don’t have time to shop, the Resource Center is also accepting donations through Venmo at @mcrcrl. Cash donations allow organizers to purchase shoes and outfits directly for students whose apples haven’t been picked in time.

With the event less than a week away, organizers say every apple picked between now and Saturday morning makes a direct difference for a specific Moore County student. •

About the Lynchburg Times: The Lynchburg Times is Moore County’s locally owned, independent news source and the only local media source own by a Lynchburg native. Our reporting is supported by readers, small business partners, and underwriters who believe community journalism matters. If this story was valuable to you, consider becoming a supporter at lynchburgtimes.com.