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Get to know school administrators. Work with them to learn the needs of the children.
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Develop ministries based on identified needs.
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Ask school personnel to identify children who would benefit from the ministries developed and help communicate with parents.
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Build relationships with parents and other caregivers so they feel comfortable with the church and its leaders.
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School-based ministries to start any time
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Adopt a school.
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Collect school supplies.
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Collect and donate new and gently used books to give to area schools.
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Develop a backpack ministry or prepare non-perishable lunches that can be placed in backpacks for children to eat over the weekend.
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Match teachers and staff with prayer partners from the congregation; provide snacks in the teachers' lounge or serve breakfast or lunch to teachers and classroom volunteers.
- Teach virtue by offering opportunities to discuss moral values with students.
Adapted from "The ABCs of back-to-school outreach" by Barbara Dunlap-Berg, internal content editor at United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.
Find the complete article and other stories and videos at www.umc.org/school.