“I would describe this event as a family gathering. It’s a day that children and families can come and really celebrate not just receiving a backpack for school, but doing all kind of fun activities with music and food,” says Bishop Godfrey Stubbs, senior pastor of End Time Ministries International. “It’s a great chance for family and friends to come together from near and far and celebrate a beautiful Saturday.”
Every year in August, End Time Ministries International hosts a back-to-school party and mini-carnival where they provide food, fun and backpacks to hundreds of area students. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5, starting at 10 a.m.
Now in its fourth year, End Time, along with partners, has given away thousands of backpacks during its first three back-to-school events. This year, the backpacks will be given to children at 1 p.m.
“It’s very important for us to help families get their children off to a great start for school. That’s one of the goals and objectives of the day is to take some of that burden off parents,” Stubbs says. “Times are very tough for many families with inflation and other things that are going on in the community. It’s rough now even to find a dollar. But through church and our ministry we see fit to help to fill those holes and assist parents and let them know that they don’t have to worry about school supplies this year. We’re going to supply you … all you have to do is come and receive it … no question asked.”
The Back 2 School Giveaway and Mini-Carnival will have cartoon characters, multiple bouncy houses, nachos, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, and a dunk tank. There will be some Christian rap groups, Stubbs says, and a DJ (Adrian Jackson), who is a new parishioner at End Time Ministries, will perform throughout the day.
“We have a lot of fun planned this year in terms of the carnival and the bouncing castle, the waterslide, the 3-on-3 basketball, and the dunk tank for the ministers to go into,” Stubbs says.
“We are also going to reach out to the fire department again. They were there last year. They brought the fire truck so the kids could check that out, take their picture with the firefighters and get stickers from them.”
Community partners for Saturday’s event include Families Back to the Table, Inc.; Warming Hands, LLC; JFMJ Academy; Connecting the Dots with Mattie, Inc.; Hands on Residential Services, LLC; and Women of Excellence, Inc.
“Everything is free. You just got to be there to see all of the things we have to offer at the event,” Stubbs says.
“I’ve had so many people calling me to make sure we are doing this again, so we know it will be a massive event again. We are excited to be a blessing to the community at large and to show our love toward our community and our people. Everyone is welcome.”
End Time Ministries is located at 15 Ellis Potter Court on Madison’s west side.
