A back-to-school tradition in Mobile got a pandemic makeover when a local church converted its annual backpack giveaway into a drive-through event, allowing families to pick up school supplies while maintaining physical distance during COVID-19.
A long line of cars wound through the church parking lot as volunteers loaded backpacks into trunks and back seats, replacing the crowded indoor gatherings of years past with a touchless experience behind the wheel.
The event came as Mobile County Public Schools had pushed back the start of the school year due to the pandemic, leaving many families uncertain about when classes would resume. For parents picking up supplies, the giveaway offered both practical help and peace of mind.
Families Grateful for the Support
One recipient, identified only as Cheryl, said from her car that the giveaway was a big help and a blessing, noting it was something she did not have to search for or pay for on her own.
Hattie Jones, another parent picking up backpacks, said the event helped her family prepare even though the school calendar remained in flux. She said she was not sure when children would return to classrooms but wanted to be ready when they did.
Church Members Continue Serving Through the Pandemic
Volunteer Sonya Black said the drive-through format still carried the same message at the heart of the church’s community work. She described the event as an expression of God’s love, which she said is what the congregation is about.
Pastor Travis Johnson said the church has been involved in several community service projects since the pandemic began and has no plans to stop. He described Mobile as a loving, tight-knit community and said the giveaway was a way of telling neighbors they are not alone and that the community will get through the crisis together.
A New Model for Community Events
The drive-through format has become a common adaptation for churches, schools and nonprofit organizations across the country during the pandemic, allowing community events to continue while reducing the risk of virus transmission. In Mobile, the backpack giveaway demonstrated that even a major shift in format could not diminish the spirit of giving that drives the annual tradition.