• Help kids get back to school with an outreach event at your church.Milk & Honey Creative/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  Fall is a busy time for many families. They are back into the routine of school, after-school activities and getting involved in their communities. Even though families are busier in the fall, it also tends to be a time when families are more interested in attending a church-outreach event or exploring what a church has to offer.
  
  

Back to School Backpack Giveaway

• If your church is looking for a way to connect with families in the community, consider hosting a back-to-school backpack bash. Plan a barbecue and backpack giveaway in early to mid-August when most families are getting ready to make purchases for the upcoming school year. Churches and ministries can support the families in their neighborhood and show them they care by advertising a free meal, message and backpack giveaway. Have church members bring sides and deserts and have a caterer prepare the meat unless your church has the means to complete a cookout on its own. Purchase backpacks in bulk from a local retailer who may even be willing to donate the backpacks or give you a price discount. Invite your community for a meal and let them know you'll be offering free backpacks. You can make a short presentation about what your church has to offer families and stick a flyer inside each backpack letting families know about the ministries and events your church will host throughout the upcoming year.
  
  

Satisfy Hungry Stomachs

• Continuing on the backpack theme, your church could host an outreach event by purchasing backpacks from a local retailer and filling them with kid-friendly food, such as pop-top vegetables and fruits and packaged lunch meat sandwiches or peanut butter and jelly. Include a flyer about your church in the backpack to let parents know who provided the food. Meet with officials at your local elementry schools and find out if they will allow your church to provide these backpacks to their students. You could give them to school administrators and allow the school to pass them out to children who they recognize as coming to school hungry. Your thoughtful gift will help students get through a weekend with a full stomach, which will help them study better throughout the week.
  
  

Provide Services to Parents

• Back-to-school shopping can be stressful for working moms who must try to get all of their children's books, clothes and other items after work when children and mom are cranky, tired and hungry. Help moms in your neighborhood by hosting a "Mom's Day Out" or "Mom's Night Out" event where moms can drop their children off at your church for supervised play while they complete their children's back-to-school shopping. Offer the service free of charge and give moms a flyer sharing what your church has to offer families.