One backpack at a time: Cristo Obrero sends students back to school

By Kayla Zopfi

Early in September, Cristo Obrero, a mission development congregation accompanying Latino families in Chaska and Shakopee, held its third annual Back to School Party with a free ice cream truck, inflatable bouncy houses, a raffle for new school shoes, and backpacks and school supplies for youth and families.

The event, which was held in the Riverview Terrace Mobile Home Park in Chaska, is the biggest event of the year for Cristo Obrero, and often sees success, according to Pastor Jorge Espinoza. At the event, Pastor Jorge noted how much fun the children were having running around and eating ice cream with their neighbors and friends, even during this pandemic-affected time.

Pastor Jorge had noticed an ongoing, general need for school supplies for kids in his two communities. He and his wife, Pastor Stephanie Espinoza, a pastor at ministry partner Cross of Peace Lutheran Church in Shakopee, started brainstorming the idea of hosting a Back to School Party. They began collecting school supplies and started spreading the word.

“Cristo Obrero is helping families find community and belonging in one place.”

The first year of the event, held in 2019, started off as a BINGO night, where families could win school supplies. The event has grown every year since. In 2019, around 25 kids were able to win school supplies. In 2020, though the COVID-19 pandemic led to a different execution of the event, Cristo Obrero was still able to get around 70 backpacks with school supplies out to families who needed them.

This year, ministry partners in the synod who were interested in donating to the event were asked to focus on donating backpacks. The 120 high-quality and exciting backpacks that kids could choose from at this years’ event illustrate a continual growth of the impact that is being made.

Pastor Norma Malfatti, Director of Evangelical Mission for the Minneapolis Area Synod, offered about the importance of the back-to-school effort, saying, “This event is about giving dignity to young people and to parents. Lives are being changed because parents don’t have to worry about their kids having everything they need for school.” She adds, “Cristo Obrero is helping families find community and belonging in one place.”

 

CRISTO OBRERO WAS formally started in 2019, after a few years of Pastor Jorge exploring what a Latino-centered ministry might look like in the Chaska and Shakopee areas. Their mission is to “… accompany Latino families, providing support and community activities to strengthen understanding that the work of Christ is love for ALL.” Pastor Stephanie, reflecting on the impact that is being made through this ministry, noted the importance of showing up and being a resource. “We are the church, and we are with you,” she said regarding their role in the community is.

To learn more, and to follow along with their ministry, head to the Cristo Obrero Facebook page, where they post about event reflections and opportunities, as well as informational content and requests for volunteers. They also have a monthly newsletter with reflections and opportunities for engagement. Subscribe to the newsletter by emailing Pastor Jorge.