The Rev. Joshua Ehmke, senior pastor of the Portland Congregational Church located at 8649 Church St., said it was the fifth year of the back-to-school event. I Am Loved is a coalition of various churches from multiple denominations that come together to organize an event aimed at serving the community. Each year, this event attracts between 250 and 350 participants from Chautauqua County. It provides essential school supplies such as backpacks, three-ring binders, pens, pencils, markers, and other items–all at no cost to attendees. In addition, the event features displays from various non-profit organizations, law enforcement agencies, bounce houses, carnival-style games, and refreshments, including hot dogs, chips, and drinks.

There are also opportunities to obtain clothing and shoes, enjoy live worship music, and participate in other Christian-centered activities and themes. This year’s event was held at the Brocton/Portland Community Park.

“This year, we added a prayer tent and a baptismal for those who want to be baptized,” Ehmke said. “We’re trying to bless those around us, while sharing the good news of the Gospel and love our community members.”

Kelly Potter, a volunteer with Portland Congregational Church, said the group had 350 backpacks and centralized many of the interactive games, such as the bounce houses and various activities.

More than 250 - 300 people attended the I Am Loved event Saturday, at the Brocton/Portland Community Park, where several churches collaborated to provide back-to-school supplies, music, food, drink and clothing supplies - free of charge. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

Potter observed that this year’s event seemed to attract an even larger audience compared to last year’s gathering. In addition to the increased turnout, this year’s attendees came from a wider range of backgrounds and traveled from various locations, extending well beyond just the South County area.

“We traveled from Warren, Pa.,” Markus Elliott shared. “A friend of ours mentioned this event on Facebook, and we thought it was fantastic that the churches are supporting the community; with everything being so costly these days, we were able to gather five backpacks filled with supplies for my two children and my girlfriend’s three kids.”

Potter stated that the churches collaborating to organize this year’s I Am Loved event are primarily located in the Portland and Brockton areas. She emphasized that the successful execution of an event of this magnitude would not have been possible without the combined efforts of all the participating churches.

“We’re here to let people know they are loved,” she said.

Ehmke emphasized the importance of connecting with individuals in a manner that respects their current life circumstances. He noted that this approach involves engaging with them without any preconceived notions or expectations.

“Instead, the focus is on genuinely blessing them, offering love, and honoring the teachings of Christ through compassionate interactions. By meeting people at their unique points in life, we can create meaningful relationships built on understanding and support,” he said.