Partner With Us: Bless Children Through a School Supplies Drive

Across Africa, children are eager to learn—but many lack the most basic school supplies. A pencil, a notebook, or a backpack can mean the difference between staying in school and falling behind.

“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” – Matthew 18:5

We are inviting churches, ministries, and believers globally to join us in a powerful, hands-on opportunity to extend your ministry beyond your walls and make a tangible impact.

How Your Church Can Get Involved - Run a School Supplies Drive

1. Collect School Supplies

Encourage your congregation, youth groups, Bible studies, or Sunday school classes to collect essential school items. This is a simple yet powerful way to put your faith into action and demonstrate God’s love in a practical way.:

Pencils & pens
Notebooks & paper
Backpacks & lunch bags
Crayons, sharpeners, rulers, and more

You could challenge each family or individual to do the following:

Provide one backpack with school supplies.
Families could purchase the individual supplies locally and assemble them into a backpack.

Or a family could buy a backpack online. Please see the following links for examples.

2. Pack School Supplies

These supplies should be packed into barrels or drums. Optionally, the boxes can be added to a pallet.

3. Cover Shipping Costs / Ship Supplies

Every container of supplies must be shipped overseas. We ask participating churches and groups also to help cover the shipping costs. This ensures that the items your members lovingly donate will arrive safely into the hands of children in Sierra Leone.

Each individual or family could be encouraged to donate $50 towards the shipping/distribution costs.

Alternatively, these costs could be covered from a periodic/special offering or the mission fund.

4. Distribution (Optional)

A team could optionally come to Sierra Leone to help with the distribution

5. Celebrate & Share the Impact

Your church family will experience the joy of knowing their gifts are making education possible for children who desperately need these resources. We will share updates and photos so your congregation can see the difference they are making.

Why This Matters

For a child in Sierra Leone, a simple pencil or notebook is more than a tool—it’s a pathway to education, dignity, and hope. When we equip children to learn, we equip them to grow into future leaders who can transform their communities.

This is more than just collecting school supplies—it’s an opportunity to:

Extend your ministry globally and live out the call to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
Equip the next generation of leaders in Sierra Leone with the tools to learn and grow.
Inspire your congregation—especially youth and children—by showing them the power of giving and service.

When your church says “yes” to this partnership, you’re not only sending pencils and paper. You’re sending hope, opportunity, and the message that God’s people care.

We believe this is an excellent way for your church to give back globally, live out the Gospel, and see the fruit of your generosity in real time.

Be Part of This Mission

Would you prayerfully consider leading your church or ministry to take on this school supplies drive? Together, we can bless hundreds of children, strengthen families, and empower communities for a brighter future.

Thank you for standing with us as we invest in the next generation. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

How to Collect Supplies
You can learn more here - www.developafrica.org/ss.

👉 Contact us today to learn how your church can get started: Send an email to hello@developafrica.org.