Local Church Sends More than 500 Students Back to School with Br - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

As Ohio Valley students head back to school, the Bethlehem Apostolic Church is there to make sure they have everything they need to start the school year off right.

The line was wrapped around the building at the start of this year's Back to School Festival at the North Wheeling Youth Center.

The Adopt A Student Program gave away free school supplies to any student in need. Rev. Cummings, who founded this event, says the supplies couldn't be given away without help from the community.

"Some are donated, and some we have to purchase," he says. "There were a number of great organizations, businesses, and individuals that allow us to be the conduit. They donate to us and we go out and purchase it."

Some of the businesses that donate money also donate their time. Will Terani works for Oreck, a community sponsor of the Adopt A Student Program, and donates his time to see kids ready and excited to go back to school.

"I know there's been over 500 and we're not done yet," he says. "The line still goes out the door. So this is great. Its great for the community, anytime we can help Rev. Cummings we want to do that."

After students picked up their supplies they could grab some free festival food including, popcorn, cotton candy and hot dogs. There was even more fun outside, with blow up rides and activities.