Oklahoma City-area churches plan back-to-school activities, giveaways

She said the church will combine the watery fun from such sliding with the practical during its annual Slip 'n' Slide back-to-school event Aug. 7. Volunteers will give away hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies amid all the excitement.

"We had anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 people show up to play in the water last year," Franks said. "I call it 'controlled chaos.'"

The Choctaw church, 13500 SE 15, is one of numerous metro-area congregations holding back-to-school gatherings that meet students' needs for school supplies and their hankering for fun. Other churches hosting back-to-school giveaways include Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Alameda Church of Christ in Norman, Chapel Hill United Methodist, Faith Church, Wildewood Christian Church and Mount Olive Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and Bethel Church in Choctaw.

Franks said Family of Faith's bash has grown over the years. She said the church with about 125 members gave away about 70 backpacks during its first Slip 'n' Slide event; last year about 440 children received backpacks and school supplies.

Franks said in addition to the wet and wild fun and school supply giveaway, the church will distribute free hot dogs and soft drinks and conduct a blood drive. Representatives from the police department and Students Against Drugs and Alcohol will provide safety information.

Meanwhile, Chapel Hill United Methodist Church is holding its first Children's Back-to-School Health Fair today at 2717 W Hefner.

Robin Dickerson, the church's director of pastoral care and older adults, said she came up with the idea for the fair, and other leaders in the church quickly embraced it. She said the church offers Whiz Kids tutoring during the school year and a Project Transformation summer program, so she thought the health fair would be a great way to expand the church's outreach to students.