Various businesses and donors are teaming up with the Webster Parish School Board to host the 7th annual Back to School Bash.
The event is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., August 3, at the Minden Civic Center. Offered throughout the day will be free school supplies, free haircuts, sack lunches for the students, T-shirts for the first 300 students, free sno-cones, popcorn and drinks and raffles for bicycles, electronic tablets, gift certificates, school uniforms and much more.
“The Webster Parish School Board puts on the Back to School Bash,” Jennifer Spurlock, of Minden Medical Center, a banner sponsor of the event, said. “It is a community event that helps any Webster Parish public school child receive extra help when it comes to school supplies.”
Students do not have to meet any income requirements, she said.
“We don’t turn them around,” Glenda Allums, with ConocoPhillips, another banner sponsor, said.
The bash is for students from Pre-K all the way to high school. Each student will receive a tote bag with grade appropriate school supplies.
“We have volunteers to issue the supplies by grades,” Allums said. “A parent or an adult will have to be with the students.”
Spurlock says representatives from each school will be on hand with information for parents, and parents may also register their child for school that day. Spurlock and Allums say if parents are registering their child for school that day, they need to make sure to have all appropriate documentation such as two proofs of residence (such as utility bill, cable bill), current immunization records and any other documentation needed.
The cost of school supplies average about $45 per student, not counting uniforms and other items they may need for school.
School uniforms are costly as well, and school uniforms will be raffled off throughout the day. While those are some of the most costly items, supplies remains the focus of the back to school bash.
Minden Medical Center will also be on hand to provide proper hand-washing techniques, information on nutrition and exercise. Other sponsors will be available as well providing information students might need.
Event coordinators are seeking sponsors and volunteers to help with the event as it has grown exponentially.
“Every year it grows,” Allums said. “The need and the events; all of the businesses are just wonderful.”
Volunteers will be needed to fill a variety of roles including runners, sorters, and assistants for the Pack the Bus event Friday and Saturday.
Sponsorship levels vary, and in kind donations may be made as well.
For more information, to volunteer or become a sponsor, call Allums at 318-382-4508 or Ursula Hullaby at 318-377-7052, extension 228.