Supply Day finds help students settle in at Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College students roamed the aisles set up in the Recreation and Aerobics Center (RAC) in search of items to help them settle into their new “home” on Seminary Hill. The annual event known as Supply Day, held Aug. 14, featured a giveaway of furniture, bedding, towels, housewares, and other items benefiting international and other students on the Fort Worth campus.

Approximately 150 students and their families were served through Supply Day, which was organized by the seminary’s Office of International Student Services (ISS) and co-sponsored by the Women’s Missionary Union of the Tarrant Baptist Association (TBA-WMU). Several area churches donated gently used items for the event.

Looking over the rows of tables lining the basketball court, ISS Director Stephanie Litton said it was the greatest number of items received for the event and the biggest group of volunteers to help put it together. She said setup began at 8 a.m. the day before and continued on the morning of the event.

Students find donated items to help make Southwestern their home during Supply Day.

Naomi Key, TBA-WMU director, has helped with the event for several years, noting that it benefits all students. She noted that international students “come in from overseas with one suitcase,” adding that American students may have already been living in an apartment but still may be missing some things.

“It really is exciting to see them light up” when they find something for their apartments or rooms, she said.

Younguk Kim, a Master of Theology (ThM) student at Southwestern Seminary, and his wife Juhee Jung, both from South Korea, found cookware and some toys for their 3-year-old son, among other items. Kim said he was surprised to see all the items that were available at Supply Day, adding that it shows the school cares a lot for its students.

“They are taking care of us,” he said.

Vithoria Sippert, from Brazil, said she first came to the event in 2017 as a single student pursuing an undergraduate degree at Texas Baptist College. Now married with two children, she is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree at Southwestern Seminary.

“Now I get to bring my family and find things for my family,” she said. She found comforters, kitchen items, and more, adding that it would make a big difference for her family.

Josué Klauser of Argentina also has returned to the seminary after earning his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in 2020. He is now pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in World Christian Studies. He and his wife, Lisa, came to Supply Day prepared, pulling a cart they had brought with them.

Klauser said he and his wife were able to save money by finding items for their family of five.

“The family trip would be very uphill if we didn’t have something like this,” he said. “It is a tremendous blessing, to say the least.”