With the opening of school less than a month away, now is the time when parents are busy buying back-to-school clothes, school supplies and other accessories.
Some new pants here, a backpack there, and don’t forget the pens, pencils, notebooks and composition books. There seems to be a never-ending list of the must-haves for the kids. And then, there are the must-haves for middle-and high-schoolers who want to be wearing the latest trends when they walk through the school doors on the opening day of school.
Suffice it to say, sending kids back to school can be a costly proposition. Given today’s economy, it can be quite a strain on the pocketbook, especially if a family has three or four children in school. Fortunately for those parents who are having a tough time making their money stretch to include school supplies, some organizations have stepped up to help out.
This Saturday, Back to School Ministries will have its annual Back to School Bash at Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton. Students, who must be accompanied by a parent, are invited to stop by and pick up a backpack of supplies as well as enjoy a time of games, refreshments and fun.
The program, in its ninth year, is expected to provide assistance to an estimated 1,400 to 1,500 children.
Comprised of several churches throughout the county, Back to School Ministries offers the day as a way to give children an early start to the school year and an experience they’ll never forget.
The Elizabethton City Schools Second Annual Back-2-School Bash August 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Citizens Bank Stadium will feature 1,000 free backpacks full of school supplies, inflatables, obstacle courses, lunch, a police dog demo, giveaway items and back to school information direct from principals and teachers.
The event is planned in partnership with East River Park Christian Church, Carter County Health Department, and the Elizabethton Police Department. Last year, more than 40 sponsors and organizations came together to make it a huge success with more than 3,000 in attendance.
Acts of kindness and generosity are certainly not unusual in Carter County. These good works never seem to get the sufficient spotlight they deserve. We’re sure that there are even more of them that happens every single day, yet they go unnoticed.
Today we felt compelled to take this space and recognize these groups for helping our kids get back to school. Efforts such as these not only fulfill their missions as charitable organizations, but they also prove that the private sector can be a wonderful partner with government programs to help those in need. Moreover, the kindness shown is one of the things that make Carter County the place it is. From us it elicits a sincere thank you.