CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – With the school year just around the corner, the Chattanooga community is making sure local children head back to school feeling ready and supported.
News 12 spoke with the director of the Nehemiah Project, who shared how the organization is giving back in a big way.
At the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, nearly 300 volunteers gathered to pack backpacks for students across the region.
The project is part of a long-standing mission to support children from kindergarten through fifth grade with school supplies they might not otherwise receive.
Kelley Andrews, Director of The Nehemiah Project, explained the impact of the day.
“All these volunteers here today are packing 10,000 backpacks that will go into the hands of kindergarten through fifth grade students during the first two weeks of school,” Andrews said.
She added that the Nehemiah Project specifically targets Title One schools and low-income housing developments.
“We have churches in those communities that partner with us to host back-to-school events. We also go directly into some Title One schools and give each child a backpack, whether they have a need or not,” Andrews said. “These are consumable items — they’re going to use them up — and we want to make sure they always have something to replenish with.”
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Nehemiah Project, and the spirit of giving was as strong as ever.
Cooper Chappelear, a volunteer, shared his experience.
“I’m a volunteer. My mom does this every year with the Heritage High School Dance Team, and it’s always been such a blessing to come and help out,” he said. “The Lord’s been good. It’s been a great experience today, and I hope we get to keep doing this every year.”
For many volunteers, the event is personal.
Deborah Barr and her son Michael Barr once received backpacks through the Nehemiah Project.
Now, they give back by helping other families.
“Not having to buy Crayola crayons, paper, pencils, sharpeners, or scissors — the Nehemiah Project helped me that year by giving Michael a backpack to take to school,” Deborah said.
Michael, now a young adult, reflected on what it meant to him as a child.
“As a kid, it showed me that there’s always somebody there for you, no matter your background or who you are,” he said. “It didn’t matter what we had or didn’t have — it meant someone cared about me. That’s what I really love about the Chattanooga area.”
For the Nehemiah Project, it’s more than just a backpack giveaway. It’s a movement of compassion, unity, and support — a community in motion, lifting up its next generation.
