DISD estimates that for the current school year 39% of enrollment live in poverty as defined by the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Providing these children with back-to-school essentials places additional financial hardship on their families. Over 8,240 children in DISD are qualified to receive assistance through the Apple Tree Project. It is only through the generosity of the Denton community that the needs of these children will be met, and Interfaith Ministries was able to assist over 879 of those students in August of 2008, our largest distribution yet!

Interfaith Ministries’ Apple Tree Back-to-School Project assists children from low-income families with essential items for back-to-school. Each child participating receives a complete set of school supplies, a backpack, two new sets of school clothes, and a new pair of shoes, as funds allow. Apple Tree makes an annual estimated economic impact of over $100,000 in the Denton community. The goal for the upcoming school year is to provide at least 1,000 DISD children with back-to-school essentials. Contributing to the Apple Tree Project is an excellent investment in Denton’s most precious resource, its children. In order to fulfill this larger distribution in 2009, we need everyone to be involved. Volunteers (especially bi-lingual) are needed to assist in taking applications, and as always, donations are greatly needed in order for this project to prosper.

Visit www.ifmdenton.org to learn how you can support The Apple Tree Project, view a list of Host Sites where “apples” are available for adoption, contribute to this program using PayPal, or call 940-566-5927.

Interfaith Ministries of Denton, Inc. seeks to provide emergency basic needs assistance to the people of northern Denton County with the goal of helping those people to become self-sufficient.