Hundreds attend Mountain View's back-to-school event

EDGEWOOD — Hundreds lined up two hours on Saturday, Aug. 20, before the back-to-school event on the Mountain View Evangelical Lutheran Church campus was even set to open.
Police guided carloads of families through the commotion to find parking spots. They'd come for help in getting the things their young ones need to start the school year.
At the end of the very hot day, hundreds of young people in need from Edgewood, Milton, Federal Way, Puyallup and Tacoma had received clothes, food, backpacks, haircuts and immunizations.
"Over 800 hundred backpacks were distributed, 1,000 hot dogs, 40 vaccinations, dozens of glucose levels taken, teeth pulled, cavities filled, and overall a splendid day to live in the kingdom on earth, thanks be to God," the Rev. John Vaswig said of the event sponsored by the Mountain View Community Center.
Others shopped the enormously busy Edgewood Community Food Bank. It serves 3,000 individuals monthly.
Volunteers took trays of water to people waiting in the long lines in a feeble effort to fend off the heat.
What started as a vision with the pastor and the Mountain View congregation now has grown into an event that's critical to meeting the needs of area children. Volunteers from schools, medical offices and businesses all pitch in.
Because the need has grown.
"It's really interesting how many people have a first-time need," said Charmaine Jovanovich-Miller, executive director of the community center.
Vaswig said the experiences has changed his congregation from one that was "a tad inward-looking" to one focused on doing God's work "with nothing expected in return."

Pictured: Jeanie Schneider, principal at Karshner Elementary School of Puyallup, hands out backpacks.

A boy receives a free haircut.

The Rev. John Vaswig of Mountain View Evangelical Lutheran Church greets the crowd as Mountain View Community Center board member Barney Wagner, left, and board President Dr. Don Mott look on.

Charmaine Jovanovich-Miller, executive director of the Mountain View Community Center, right, check in participants.

The crowd.