AMARILLO -- With the recession, more families than ever are having trouble affording school supplies. But one local church is stepping in to help those in need.

Friday night, around 2,000 people packed the Church at Quail Creek to get some free school supplies and food. The church gave out 600 tickets for food and 1,000 for school supplies in advance. Parents and their kids started the evening with a worship service before lining up to get their bags of food and back-to-school necessities.

When asked what keeps him coming back year after year, Senior Pastor Stan Coffey replied, "What we see right now. Seeing these boys and girls walk out with school supplies and knowing that they won't go to school not having what they need."

The program originally started out with only groceries then gradually expanded to include school supplies. It's in its twentieth year, and organizers say that 2009 is their biggest year yet.

Faith City Mission assisted in putting on the event, which was open to everyone. The church also gives out food every November for Thanksgiving.