Opening The Door to a successful school year

The summer countdown clock says, "less than one week until school starts,” and The Door Christian Fellowship Church (52 Unser Blvd., thedoorriorancho.org) is here to help Rio Rancho prepare with the “Equipping the Students” school supply drive being held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the church parking lot.

“We want to help kids and families in need prepare for the school year,” says The Door head pastor Zach Salas.“We [also] recognize that education is key for our children, but school can be a very difficult thing for many kids to navigate ... Our aim is to equip students and families for life’s difficulties.”

This is the firstyear The Door has hosted the “Equipping the Students” event, but Salas says they intend to make it an annual tradition.

For the inaugural event, the church will be giving away 300 vouchers for free backpacks with supplies, which will then be distributed onsite at noon. Vouchers are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and students must be present.

The benefits of school supply drives like the one The Door Christian Fellowship Church is hosting are quantifiable. According to a 2022 survey by Lending Tree, 33% of those looking to purchase back-to-school supplies will go into some level of debt.

The benefits are felt across the educational landscape as well, not just in the parents’ pocketbook. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that, in 2021, 93% of U.S. public school teachers had to reach into their own pockets to provide school supplies for their students.

Salas says the event isn’t just about getting ready for school with supplies. The Door also wants to help kids and parents prepare by having a fun, relaxing time and getting to know their neighbors a little before the grind of the school year begins.

“[We want] to simply have fun and build relationships,” he says. “We are a growing church and hope to see this event grow in the coming years.”

“Equipping the Students” will include live music, food, snow cones, cotton candy, plenty of games and a free-to-enter raffle. Raffle prizes include a Chromebook and several TI-84 calculators to be handed out to the winners during the event.

Salas says the event will also help The Door have an impact on Rio Rancho.

“We are looking forward to having a positive, long-term impact in our community.”