(BISHOP P.A. BROOKS, First Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) with Jennifer Collins and her children, Jonathan and Bailee, at the handing out of school supplies to children on Aug. 29 organized by Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM). – Andre Smith photos.)
Approximately 100 school kids from throughout metro Detroit attended the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries’ (DRMM) annual Back-to-School event. Held Friday, Aug. 29, at one of its facilities, located at 138 Stimson Street in the Cass Corridor section of the city, the event provided children with free school supplies, food boxes and turkeys. Most of the children were accompanied by at least one adult.
Bishop P.A. Brooks, first assistant presiding bishop of the 6.5 million-member Church of God in Christ, delivered a prayer for returning school kids, which included a cross-Atlantic Ocean intercessory prayer for school kids in West African countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone, who are affected with the deadly Ebola virus and are not able to attend school.
Following the event, Brook explained why he participated.
“This is a very important event and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is a very special organization to me,” said Brooks, who has pastored New St. Paul Tabernacle Church in Detroit for 54 years. “Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries for over a century has been building this city, one person at a time. They have given out food and school supplies to low-income children, which are essential. Also, when I think about the Ebola outbreak in Africa, as well as the AIDS pandemic there, I know we can conquer them with scientific research, but most importantly with prayers. God is able and I’m honored to be here to pray for our children here and in Africa.”
Many parents were thankful for the supplies and food dispensed.
“I am so grateful that my children were able to get these school supplies,” said Jenifer Collins. “Things are so expensive, and I’ve been off work all summer. I’m also happy to be here to learn more about the many good deeds of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.”
Collins’ two children were also grateful.
“It was nice to receive the school supplies that I got today,” said Jonathan, a 6th grader at DPS’ Clippert Academy in Southwest Detroit. His sister, Bailee. was equally excited. “I got a lot of nice supplies,” said the 4th grader at DPS’ Harms Elementary School. “I received folders, crayons, notebooks, a calculator and a lot of other wonderful things for school.”
Founded in 1909, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, a nonprofit organization, provides services for about 1,800 people each day, which includes teen moms and veterans. Services include free transitional housing, substance abuse treatment and meals, while providing spiritual care and job training. Dr. Chad Audi is DRMM’s president and CEO and oversees programs in Detroit and Highland Park.
“Every year, DRMM provides free back-to-school items, like new backpacks, to over 100 school kids from low income families,” Audi said. “Early education is at the core of addressing homelessness and hunger in our region, and we are here to assist low-income families in any way we can to ensure their children get the education they need.”