Texas Church Group Offers School Supplies to Standing Rock Tribe - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Texas Church Group Offers School Supplies to Standing Rock Tribe

A Baptist church in Texas does mission work all around the world and within the United States.

Right now, the group is making more than a pit-stop on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

"You've got your construction paper, your folders a binder, markers, pencils and glue, everything the kids need to start school." says Brandy Smith.

With school fast-approaching, a church group offers a blessing to hundreds of students on the reservation.

"I was one of those kids in Texas who didn't have school supplies in Texas and know how it feels the first day of school and you don't have what the other kids have when it comes to Kleenex and notebooks, so just suggested we extend Operation Back to School to North Dakota." says Brandy Smith/Keller TX, First Baptist Church.

They traveled by bus all the way from Texas on a mission trip called "Operation Back to School".

This is the church group's 4th year supplying school kits in Fort Yates and first year in Cannonball.

"I think it's going to help a lot, I think it'll take stress off teachers not having to get more school supplies for the kids." says Spirit White Shield, a high school student heading into her junior year.

Spirit will be a junior this year and is most looking forward to music.

She sings and plays several instruments already, but is also singing the praises of this program.

"I think it's fun and exciting because for me, I want to help out other people with stuff, so I think this is a nice start to be helping out with the community." says Spirit White Shield/Junior.

"It's a great joy to see a smile on the kids faces and to be relieved that they don't have to worry about supplies, they just need to concentrate on their education." says Smith.

Brandy Smith is investing more than her time here.

She's also supplying mentorship to Spirit and her sister Bethany.

All families on the reservation however, can take school supplies, off their list.

"I get more out of it than the kids do, just knowing that they're provided for and they know that they're loved, this is really trying to lead by example and show God's love through our words and actions." says Smith.

The group is also in Ft. Yates delivering school supply kits Wednesday.

Overall, they will give out more than 500 on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.