Katy Christian Ministries is currently in the middle of its annual Red Apple school supply program, and the organization has experienced a staggering response, new Executive Director Kyle Strickland said in a July 24 email blast. But the need for assistance is outpacing the available supplies, and the drive, which began in June, has now been extended to August 2, KCM spokesperson Heather Peterson said in an email to the Katy Times.

“Many of the families we serve are working hard but continue to struggle financially,” Peterson said. “We regularly meet parents who are employed full-time yet still have difficulty covering basic household expenses such as food, housing, utilities, and school supplies. Rising costs have made it increasingly difficult for many families to make ends meet. Through Red Apple, our goal is to ease that burden by giving parents one less expense to worry about.”

“We now have over 900 local children registered for assistance,” Strickland said in the email blast. “We have been incredibly blessed by early backpack and monetary donations from several church partners, and we are eagerly anticipating a generous delivery of another 240 backpacks from today [July 24]. Additionally, our team will be out in the community at a school supplies drive hosted by Patten Title to help gather more resources.”

“The need in our community still heavily outweighs our current inventory,” Strickland said. “We currently have about 240 backpacks ready to distribute. We passionately want to assist every single child who has registered, but to cross that finish line and meet this massive need, we need your profound generosity.”

Requested supplies include:

· Backpacks appropriate for students in grades K-3

· 3-ring binders (1.5” size)

· Notebook filler paper wide ruled

· Composition books

· 24-count crayons

· Washable markers

· 12-count colored pencils

· Highlighters (4-count)

· Black sharpies

· Blunt scissors ro student-size scissors

· School glue

· Glue Sticks

· Hard pencil box

· Zippered pouch

· 9”x12” colored construction paper

· Corded headphones

· Box of tissues

· Post-it notes


KCM’s greatest preference right now is for fully filled backpacks, Strickland said, but for potential donors who may be short on time, monetary donations can help bridge the gap and purchase exactly what students need. Donations may be made online at https://ktcm.org/redapple/ or donors may mail a check payable to Katy Christian Ministries to PO Box 986, Katy, TX 77492, with “Red Apple” in the memo line. In-person donations of supplies can be dropped off at 3506 Porter Road in Katy Monday-Thursday from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and from 1 to 4:15 p.m.

Over the past 50 years the Red Apple Program has supported thousands of children and during last year alone, KCM assisted over 900 students. This year, the organization wants to serve more students if they can achieve their fundraising goal of $15,000.