PINEVILLE — A community charity event was held on Friday evening at the old Bell High School football field, located on Highway 119, and hundreds gathered in support of the occasion. The Lighthouse Mission Center of Pineville sponsored the back-to-school giveaway in support of the local community and supplied children with free clothing, shoes, books, hair cuts and all necessary school supplies.

According to statistics taken from the latest county census report, provided by the Lighthouse Mission Center and Medical Clinic, an estimated 42 percent of all children in Bell County live in poverty. Any charitable event, such as a back-to-school giveaway, allows services of generosity and encouragement to be provided to a community in need, and helps the area “move up the continuum of care to permanent stability.”

The overall mission of the Lighthouse Center is “to provide a temporary Christ-centered environment to reach out to those facing emergency hardship with food boxes, clothing, daily hygiene, cleaning supplies, hot meals and healthcare.”

With the help of mission groups from all across the country and countless volunteers, the back-to-school giveaway event focused on providing help to disadvantaged and/or underprivileged children and their families, in an attempt to help ease some of the financial pressures that may arise with the upcoming school year. The goal was to provide positive helpful services and hope to those in need, as well as to bring a little excitement to the community.

Robin Fuson of the Bell County Health Department — who managed to help distribute 36 car seats to local families in need at this event — conveyed how important community events are to the people of this area because they simply “bring everyone together” in the name of giving, responsibility, hope, progress and change.

The mission of the back to school giveaway was to not only “meet the physical and emotional needs of those facing hardship in their lives,” but it was also a mission “to win souls for the glory of God,” Fuson said.

Mark Caldwell, an event volunteer and proud member of the North Canton Baptist Church in Canton, North Carolina, spoke about the spiritual impact/influence such an event can have on a community.

“This event shows that there is a God... and he loves and cares for all,” said Caldwell, “and if we can save one lost soul today, then we have completed our mission.”

Apart from the spiritual and emotional aspects of the event, the back-to-school giveaway also featured a wide variety of games — brought in by Two Rivers Church from Knoxville, Tennessee — and an array of other entertainment including live music, fun prizes and plenty of good food. Kids played all throughout the evening, and volunteers, as well as church members, helped to ensure that all went smoothly. Everyone benefited from the generosity of the Lighthouse Mission Center. Overall, the event was sucessful in it’s mission to contribute to the greater good of the community.

If you wish to donate any helpful items, your time and/or money, contact the Lighthouse Mission Center of Pineville at lightmissctr@cebridge.net.

Adam Young is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact him via e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com.