WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – Houston County Family Connection hosts their fourteenth annual Back to School Bash on Friday July 21. The event was from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The organization hosts this event every year to make sure students are ready on the first day and prepared for the upcoming school year.
Students from Elementary to High School were given a bookbag filled with a pack of paper, a composition book, a pack of crayons, a pack of index cards and two folders. In the small pocket, volunteers made sure to pack six pencils and two glue sticks. According to Executive Director of Family Connection Valkyrie Anderson, there was also a surprise gift in most of the bookbags which was a voucher for Rigby’s Entertainment Complex.
“We did the best we can to get the supplies that make the most sense,” said Anderson.
The event took place at multiple locations. At C.B. Watson Primary School, parents and students could go in-person. Parents completed a survey to get a ticket for each child they bring, and each received a bookbag.
There was also drive thrus for parents as well as Thomson Middle School and Perry High School from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Once they received the bookbag, students could visit cows and pigs outside the school which was provided by the Future Farmers of America and play in a bouncy house. Attendees can also buy a popsicle to stay cool in the heat and lunch will be provided for students by the Houston County School Nutrition.
Sponsors like CGTC also sent students in their barbering group to cut kids’ hair for free. An organization called Macon Periods Easier also donated period supplies for students in efforts to expand their organization to the Houston County area.
The event also provided vision, hearing and dental screenings for all students. The Department of Health also provided medical records assistance for any new students in Houston County.
Anderson said many parents called about the event and the biggest excitement for them was to receive a backpack.
“Some kids they might have to go to school with no physical backpack they’re just carrying their stuff and what they can, so that’s really cool that we’re able to supply them and, of course, even though we can’t buy your whole supply list it is a good start on the supplies that you do need for school. So once you open up that backpack you can check some of those off your list and you know you’re starting the school year off with something in your bag,” said Anderson.
According to Anderson, the supplies were donated by local organizations Family Connections partnered with including the City of Warner Robins, Warner Robins Housing Authorities and Robins Financial Credit Union. Anderson said they are the top tier sponsors, and each organization gave $2,500 to go towards the event.
Other sponsors include Resilient Middle Georgia, Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, First Presbyterian Church of Warner Robins, Amerigroup RealSolutions, Mount Calvary Lutheran and First Choice Primary Care.
Houston County Family Connections is a nonprofit organization that helps cross barriers for to improve the lives of children and families in the county. This event will help students and the organization see what services are needed by completing the survey.
Anderson said the event has grown over the years due to the need of supplies in the area and they made sure to get more supplies this year for each child.
She added that she would like to give huge thanks to board members, sponsors and volunteers who helped put this event together. She gave a shout out to one specific volunteer, Donald Black, who went above and beyond to get the event together.
“The atmosphere should be fun, it should be exciting, getting ready for school, I think, with the students that’s always a fun time to come back refreshed from the summer. We’re hoping for a really friendly and fun atmosphere,” said Anderson.
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