October 2, 2026
FORT WORTH, Texas — More than 300 students and their families were served at Supply Day, held Wednesday, Aug. 13, on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary campus. The annual event provides items for seminary and Texas Baptist College students to help them settle into their new “home away from home” on the Fort Worth campus.
Rows of bedding, dishes, cookware, children’s toys, and other items greeted students as they stepped onto the basketball court in the Recreation and Aerobics Center . Several area churches donated gently used items for the event, which was organized by the seminary’s Office of International Student Services (ISS) and co-sponsored by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Tarrant Baptist Association.
“We have been so fortunate that God has led in this ministry to students, and we are seeing blessings beyond what we could have prepared or foreseen,” ISS Director Stephanie Litton said, noting this year’s event surpassed last year’s totals in the number of items donated as well as the number of volunteers. More than 50 volunteers from the WMU, the ISS, the Riley Center support staff, Facilities, Student Life, and the Student Life Internship helped with the event.
Irene Austin, a volunteer from the East St. Paul Baptist Church as well as a board member for Tarrant WMU, stood near piles of pillows donated by the church. Calling it their “chief responsibility,” she noted the church’s goal is to provide more than 100 pillows each year.
“It’s a blessing to give back,” Austin said, adding, “There are a lot of times when we have an abundance, so why not share?”
Those piles of pillows dwindled quickly, and other items were quickly spoken for as students wandered the aisles. Hanmaeum “Sarah” Kim, a Master of Divinity student, said she came from Korea with one suitcase and had a list of items she hoped to find. She also had help from her sister, who flew in from California to help her get settled.
Kim said she was surprised by the event, adding that items she found would have been expensive if she’d had to buy them in the store.
“We have everything that we need here,” she said.
Shiby George, a Doctor of Ministry student from India, and his family found bedsheets, towels, kitchen utensils, and more—things he said would have been nearly impossible to find elsewhere, since he’s new to the United States.
“It is really a great blessing to us,” he said.
Fiona Han, a biblical counseling student from East Asia, chose some Christmas decorations and baking tools she will use to bake cookies for her work at the Women’s Center on campus and for friends. Pablo Espada, a student in the seminary’s Spanish-language Master of Theological Studies program, said it was fun to “rummage through” the rows of items, adding the event “shows how wonderful God is in being a provider.”
Jennifer Fraker, a Master of Christian Education student in biblical counseling, said, “The Lord has really provided for me through this.” She found a table at last year’s event, and this year found a shelf, a casserole dish that was “perfect for a single person,” and more.
“I have everything I need,” she said, adding that “Sometimes, you find something you want.”
Southwestern Seminary and TBC students can receive additional support through Brother’s Keeper and The Daily Groceries ministries, both located in the Walsh Counseling Center on campus. Students and their families can get clothing, personal hygiene items, household cleaning supplies, diapers, and more at Brother’s Keeper.
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