In the eight years since St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironton started the Tools 4 Schools program, nearly 14,000 students have been guaranteed a backpack full of the supplies they need so they can worry about learning instead of whether or not their family can afford the items.

Now in its ninth year, the Tools 4 Schools is slated to be bigger than ever and the Summerfest community celebration that was added several years ago continues to grow.

St. Paul organizers, along with the other downtown churches and partners who make this possible, are planning to provide more than 2,000 backpacks full of supplies this year to Lawrence County youth in grades pre-K to 12th.

But this will not be possible without strong community support again this year.

The event is slated for Aug. 3 but it is not too late to lend a hand and make a difference.

Anyone interested can help by:

> Making a monetary donation

> Donating backpacks

> Donating school supplies

> Assisting with packing or distributing bags

> Hosting an informational table

> Providing entertainment

Today’s youth face so many pressures, challenges and obstacles that most of us never had to deal with. Whether or not they have the right school supplies shouldn’t be something about which the students have to worry.