Hands Across Mathews and Mathews County Social Services joined forces on Tuesday to hold their annual Fresh Start Back to School Shopping Trip.

Twenty-five children were funded by Hands Across Mathews and five others were funded by the Mathews Family YMCA’s Bright Beginnings program, as the students were able to get clothing, school supplies and other necessities for the coming academic year.

Each of the children was accompanied by an adult volunteer shopper on the morning bus trip to Gloucester’s Walmart.

The $4,000 in Hands Across Mathews funding was donated by the William F. and Catharine Owens Foundation, the Central United Methodist Men, the Paul Townsend Class of Central United Methodist Church and Kingston Episcopal Parish.

Fresh Start coordinator Peggy Leigh said the purpose of this project is to help these children start out on a positive note for the new school year.

The shopping trip ended with a picnic lunch provided by the Mathews Rotary C...