Memphis area church serves schoolchildren, teachers

Pictured are LaRose Elementary fifth-grade teacher Lori Streeter, second-grade teacher Kimberly Jones, kindergarten teacher Mary Cooper, Highland senior minister Chris Altrock, principal Karen Fields, ministry leader Mendy Breeden, first-grade teacher Monique Eason, librarian Joyce Wesley, resource teacher Ann Harrison and secretary Stacey Blackman. (Photo by Rhonda Gray)

The Highland Church of Christ in Cordova, Tenn., recently honored teachers and staff members from LaRose Elementary School for their commitment to educating children in the city of Memphis.
“Although our congregation is located in the suburbs, we have a heart for the children of the city,” senior minister Chris Altrock said.
In recent weeks, the church contributed $18,000 for school supplies benefiting metro Memphis children, leaders said.
Formerly homeless boys and girls were provided supplies in partnership with the Families in Transition effort of Agape Child and Family Services, Altrock said.
Nearly 5,000 children were given supplies, the minister said. At LaRose Elementary, each student received a backpack filled with school supplies requested by their teachers.
In 2005, before relocating to the suburbs, the Highland church was the first congregation featured in The Christian Chronicle’s Churches That Work series.

Does your congregation reach out to schoolchildren and educators at the beginning of the school year? If so, please leave a comment and share your approach and experience.