Lee Sandlin with Sugartree Ministries and Jason Stoops with Midnight Auto have had disagreements over the years about handling the homelessness in our community. However, amidst differing perspectives, both find common ground in prioritizing the well-being of local children.
The project first took off when Jason viewed a social media post by the Wilmington Democratic Party, gathering school supplies for local youth. This inspired him to do something similar at a larger scale while staying anonymous. “We didn’t want anyone associated with it [in the beginning],” said Jason.
Lee’s involvement in the school supply drive has evolved since its first year, from helping gather and distribute supplies to using his community connections to aid its expansion. Last year the group held its largest event at Dove Church, adding live music, face painting, and food service by Amazon to their itinerary.
This year, the group plans to add a free family movie the night before the event, hosted by The Murphy Theatre. The event will be held at Dove Church on August 11th, starting at 2 pm.
Any family who needs supplies must bring proof of Clinton County residency and their children. Those who cannot attend can contact Jason to make arrangements.
Learn more on the Real Change Wilmington Podcast, episode 47.