Volunteers are working hard all summer with the locally-based A Gift of Love ministry to insure 400 school-aged children will have a backpack, school supplies and a change of clothes before the next school year begins.

Founder Juanita Clay operates the non-profit ministry, which has been serving the county for 12 years, out of its Longview Drive office with the help of volunteers.

Several teenage girls helped Clay Tuesday as they packed school supplies to aide some of their less fortunate classmates.

“I think it’s good for them to get out during the summer while school is out and give back to their community,” Clay said.

Clay and her volunteers are busy packing school supplies, toiletries and a full change of clothes, including underwear and a pair of shoes, into backpacks for local underprivileged children.

The school supplies generally last about three to four months for most students and are in gender-specific blue or pink packages, Clay said.

All materials given to the children are new and are either donated to A Gift of Love or are purchased by the ministry with donated funds.

According to Clay, A Gift of Love has a shortage of backpacks if it is going to serve 400 local children, and the ministry is seeking the donation of backpacks or cash for purchasing backpacks.

Clay said those 400 children come from 128 families who filled out an application sent home with their children from school.

The backpacks will be presented to needy children in August at A Gift of Love’s annual back to school party and meal.

During the school year, A Gift of Love will donate more backpacks to children, but these will contain non-perishable food items instead of clothes, toiletries and school supplies.

To enquire about volunteering or donating, contact Clay at 770-947-8200.