XENIA — A longtime Xenia church gathered donations for back-to-school supplies, book bags, clothing, tennis shoes, and more in order to help local children in the district get ready for school.

New Life Christian Assembly distributed more than 200 book bags on Aug. 17, providing much-needed school supplies and clothing to area families — all free of charge. The event also included a bounce house for kids, lawn darts, games, a fish pond for prizes, face painting, sno-cones, cotton candy, hot dogs, chips, and drinks.

Helping out with the needs of their parishioners and the community is nothing new for the church which hosts a free community meal every Tuesday at 6 p.m.

“We have been hosting the community meal and providing free school supplies for quite a while now,” said Karen Murphy. Murphy’s husband, Dr. Robert Murphy III, has pastured the church for decades.

“No one is turned away or leaves hungry,” Karen Murphy said.

The couple, with the help of volunteers, also provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to those wanting to share in a holiday setting with the 175-member congregation. The non-denominational church offers Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

“Many of our members come to the first service and end up staying for the second,” said longtime church attendee and volunteer, Gayle Porter. “We will be celebrating our church’s 70th anniversary in January and many of the members really enjoy the fellowship and leadership here, so they keep coming back. You’ll never find a more loving and caring couple than Pastor Murphy and his wife, Karen.”

For those wishing to help with donations of food, canned goods, school supplies, or monetary donations to help with Assembly projects/church improvements, contact Porter at 937-728-8106.

Reach Karen Rase at 937-502-4534.