BUCHANAN — When Buchanan’s Old Mill Festival ended for the last time in 2009, the Buchanan Area Ministerial Association wanted to keep one of its programs running.

The coalition of area churches took that program and created Faith and Family Day in 2010. It is now about to celebrate its ninth anniversary with another free event in the Buchanan Common.

From 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, a plethora of free services, activities and faith-based music will be offered to everyone, regardless of religion, organizer Alice Kring said.

“This is kind of a combination, you know?” she said. “This is the area churches helping families getting ready to go back to school.”

Kring is involved with Buchanan Area Ministerial Association. She said the group is representative of the interconnectedness area churches and their congregations share.

“They’re a pretty active group in Buchanan,” she said. “Most of the churches are involved with the association. They try to coordinate calendars and try to have activities together.”

Faith and Family Day is a way to publicly show the area’s strong faith-based connections, she said.

Many other organizations, from churches to service groups to businesses, are helping, too. Kring said each does so by providing programs that either boost wellness or celebrate the end of summer.

“If they enjoy listening to Christian music or if their kids want to run off a little steam before school starts, this is a great event to come to,” she said.

The most well-known part of Faith and Family Day is its backpack giveaway, provided by Buchanan Area Ministerial Services. Its member churches collect backpacks and donations for them throughout the year from individuals and businesses. Then, these backpacks are given out at Faith and Family Day.

Last year, about 300 backpacks were distributed, Kring said, but the association has handed out upwards of 450 before.

The backpack distribution is the one event where registration is needed. Families can do so by calling (269) 695-1091 until Saturday.

As Christian praise teams, soloists and musical cast members sing through the duration of Faith and Family Fun Day, these other free activities and item giveaways will occur:

• Eye screenings and referrals provided by the Buchanan-Galien Lions Club.

• Free identification kits to help lost and endangered children provided by Lodge 68 Free and Accepted Masons.

• Free hotdogs and water.

• Frozen desserts provided by Buchanan High School Leo Club.

• Popcorn provided by Redbad Insurance Services, which Kring is owner of.

• Face painting by Ashley Hanson.

• A clothing giveaway provided by Redbud Area Ministries until 4 p.m.

• Inflatable bounce houses and games provided by participating churches.

• Haircuts, provided by volunteer hairdressers. This service is new to the yearly event, Kring said.

For general information about the event, Kring said to call (269) 695-1091.