PROCTORVILLE — Lawrence County kids may be savoring those lazy days of summer right now, but members of an area church want to make certain when they return to school in a few months, they will be ready.

New Hope United Methodist Church in Proctorville will have first annual Back-to-School fair for low-income families Aug. 9. Right now members are collecting donations to fill backpacks for elementary, middle and high school aged students.

“Our church has a food pantry and a lot of the families who come (to the pantry) have four or five school-aged children. I’m sure if it is expensive to send one child to school, those who have four or five kids need as much help as possible,” said Brittany Bradley, who is spearheading the effort.

Donations may be dropped off at New Hope United Methodist Church. It is located at 111 Twp. Rd. 1130 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays starting June 26. The backpacks may be new or gently used (no tears or stains). The school supplies may include 24-pack crayons, packs of wood and mechanical pencils, red and black pens, and highlighters, glue sticks, children’s scissors, 1-inch or 1.5-inch 3-ring binders, composition notebooks and pencil boxes.