‘Preschool fun for our kids’: Discovery United Methodist Church holds back-to-school water bash

Aug 17, 2025 - 18:25

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‘Preschool fun for our kids’: Discovery United Methodist Church holds back-to-school water bash

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A United Methodist church invited families and students to its back-to-school event in Henrico County on Sunday.

The Discovery United Methodist Church in Tuckahoe held a water bash from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17. The free event included water balloons, relay races, create-a-card, bounce houses, hot dogs and more.

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According to organizers, this event benefited Ruby Carver Elementary School, down the road off Lauderdale Drive. The church also collected donations of new school supplies, such as pencils, spiral notebooks, composition books, markers, crayons, scissors or colored pencils.

McKenzie Atkinson, who oversees the children's ministry, said they are looking to bring an "end of the summer fun, not only with the school supplies we've given to the community but also just a good time to say goodbye to summer and hello school year."

Patrick Pillow, the lead pastor at Discovery United, said they've been collecting school supplies for the last couple of weeks they handed out on Sunday in what he calls "preschool fun for our kids."

Discovery United Methodist Church held a back-to-school water bash in Henrico County on Sunday, Aug. 17. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News)

Additional proceeds will be handed out to those who need it within the Greater Richmond Region community.

"We want our community to know that if they're in need, we're here to fill that need," Pillow said. "We love our people. We want them to feel welcome here at Discovery United Methodist Church."

The event also included food, water games, activities and more.

This marks the church's second back-to-school bash yet. Last year, it was just their internal church, and this is the first year they have "extended it out to the community," Atkinson said.

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"We want them to know that we're going to be praying for them throughout the school year,
Pillow said. "If they have needs, we want to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed in school."

All Henrico students will head back to school on Monday, Aug. 18.

Those looking to give back to the community can go to their website or email the church at office@discoverymethodist.org, per Atkinson.