We have a wonderful opportunity to help Lindbergh students as they get back to school. Even though Tulsa Public Schools is starting back with distance learning, there are still much needed items students will need at home as they connect online. In talking with Principal James Issacs, he explained that Lindbergh receives all the school supplies for every student through a federal grant that delivers the supplies to the school. Yet, with COVID and the start of the school year at home, we need to get these supplies to the students.

Also, Lindbergh’s enrollment has grown this year. Even as many families have opted to go completely virtual, or transferred to a charter school or EPIC, enrollment has increased. One of the contributing factors to this growth is the closing of John Paul Jones Elementary off of 15th Street between Memorial and Sheridan. The former students of John Paul Jones have been dispersed to Bell Elementary, Skelly Elementary, and to Lindbergh. Right now, the enrollment at Lindbergh is 513 students.

The safety precautions TPS has put into place does not allow parents and students to come to the school building and meet their teachers at a traditional back to school. Some plans have been made to do some of that virtually; yet, the school supplies are still the issues.

With this new format, many students will be receiving new or up-to-date chrome books or tablets that will be used to connect for distance learning. These items as well need to be distributed. Mr. Issacs reached out to us as one of Lindbergh’s partners in education to see if we could help. They would like to pre-package all the school supplies and electronic device for each student using backpacks. He asked if we would consider providing backpacks for the students.

Other partners have committed to providing backpacks, so we do not need to supply all 513. Our Missions Team has already approved $500 of Mission funds to be used for this outreach. I asked our staff to research and find the best price for backpacks, and we have found a great organization out of Guthrie that makes backpacks just for this purpose for $3 and $4 each depending on size. If you go to Walmart or another retail vendor, most backpacks run from $10 and up. So, this is a great price! That $500 will purchase around 160 backpacks. We would like to double that quantity to ensure every student gets a backpack. Our goal is 320 backpacks.

Would you pray and consider giving an extra gift specifically for the students around our church? It may not seem that this will make a big impact, but right now, these students will know that their backpacks from Eastwood and the other partners in education. This is a huge deal. We have been praying for intentional ways that we can reach out to our community during this time of COVID limitations. I believe the Lord has heard our prayers, and this is one way that we can join Him in what He is doing right now in the lives of these students.

Because we do not have much time, we need all donations for this outreach in by this Sunday, August 23rd. If you’d like to give electronic, go to EastwoodTulsa.org/give. Please select the category – Lindbergh Backpacks and put in your gift amount. If you would like to give in the offering on Sunday, just write on your check or envelope the amount for Lindbergh backpacks.

Thank you, Eastwood, for stepping up and helping our community! There are much better days ahead, and God is positioning us to be in the center of His Will as we continue to move forward.

God bless you!

Bro. Jeremy