Article Preview

2,000 kids expected at Back to School Bash

By Ashley Rader

Some 2,000 kids are expected to participate in the annual Back to School Bash, which will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday at Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in Hampton. The Back to School Bash provides area children with free school supplies. In addition, a variety of fun activities for the children as well as refreshments will be provided.

This is the fourth year for the Back to School Bash which continues to grow each year. Harmony Pastor Brandon Young said an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 people are expected for Saturday’s event, when you count parents and guardians. Part of the rules of the bash is that the parents must stay with their children during the event.

Volunteers will prepare 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to be distributed to students in kindergarten through grade 12. All students will receive a three-ring binder with a pack of wide rule notebook paper, glue sticks, scissors, ruler, washable markers, erasers and pencils. Included in the supplies for kindergarten through sixth grade will be a 24-count package of crayons while students in grades 7-12 will get a package of colored pencils. Also, students in grades 7-12 will receive a protractor in their supplies.