Gonzales community hands out school supplies

The new school year is around the corner for many children in Gonzales, but they’ll not return to school empty-handed. 

Families gathered at the Edwards Community Center for the inaugural Gonzales School Supply Drive and Giveaway Saturday, July 15. 

Three-hundred bags of school supplies were distributed to students of Gonzales ISD, Grace Christian Academy, Emmanual Christian School and Legacy Ranch. 

Several organizations, churches, GISD administrators and others handed out supplies to the children that need them to kick off the new school year. 

Isaac Anzaldua and Kena May of the Pilot Club, and Pastor Robert Ramirez of Eastside Church, talked about the community coming together for one common goal: to help the children of Gonzales. 

“Well, I just praise God, that it's all community-driven, that we can all come together as a community for one purpose, and that is for the kids. So this is what's exciting for me,” Ramirez said.

“It a great task that Gonzales cannot handle,” Anzaldua said, and added when partnering with “friends, family, and love for the community,” great things happen. 

“We have over 300 bags [of school supplies]. In addition, we'll be able to sponsor all teachers in their classroom from GISD, Emanuel fellowship, Grace Christian Academy, and Legacy Ranch as they will all receive supplies from the community of Gonzales,” Anzaldua said. “So we thank all the businesses, the sponsors, the organizations and again, the friends and family, the community has been so generous and making donations.” 

Last year, there were several different school supply drives, but this year, the community got together for one drive. 

“We realize that a community, it's one heartbeat, and we realize that we all have to come together to do one thing and that's to serve each other,” Ramirez said. “So, as we come together as a community, it just brings not only glory to the Lord, but it brings glory to the community and what we do.”

The children of Gonzales, with smiles, were excited to receive their supplies and to know they’ll have the items they need for the new school year. 

“It's great seeing their their smiling happy faces and to get things to kids. school supplies for the year.” May said. 

“It's very joyous to see how excited they are about it to come in and know they're receiving what they need to be successful this year. It's a wonderful thing to be able to provide those to the community,” Anzaldua said.