SharingChange Spotlight: Break-Thru Tennessee

Supplying students for success

Some Rutherford County students started the new school year with a free backpack filled with essentials, offering a dose of encouragement to those who might need it most. The distribution was coordinated by Break-Thru Tennessee, a grassroots nonprofit founded by MTE members Joshua and Frances Rosales.

What began with Frances clipping coupons to fill school backpacks for a few children at church has grown into an organization that has been going strong for nearly a decade. In addition to delivering school supplies for students and classrooms, the organization distributes apparel, hygiene items, food and staples such as laundry detergent to help struggling families.

“We make sure the supplies are going straight into the hands of those who need them,” said Joshua, who oversees the
nonprofit in addition to working his regular job and serving on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.

Rather than maintaining a single-location storefront, Break-Thru Tennessee coordinates with schools and other community organizations to stage pop-up service events within communities. Grants from MTE’s SharingChange fund have helped.

A recent back-to-school distribution in Murfreesboro provided 2,000 backpacks to low-income students. Children received packs stuffed with school supplies as well as new shoes, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Another event provided classroom supplies and self-care activities for teachers at a middle school with a high population of low-income students.

“We’re showing up with love for those who really need it,” Joshua said. “We’re neighbors helping neighbors.”

Visit facebook.com/BreakThruTN for more information about Break-Thru Tennessee events.