Volunteers busily gathered up school supply packages at Broseley High School Monday afternoon in preparation for Wednesday's free Back to School Fair. The fair will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. in the gym.
The second annual event is organized by board members Jill Worley and Donna Sue Ashcraft-Fincher, Belinda Hester with Black River Beauty Academy and Twin Rivers social worker Kelly Voyles.
According to Worley, students can pick up all school supplies except tissues, disinfectant wipes and zippered bags. Supplies provided include backpacks, folders, paper, pencil boxes and glue. The supplies come with no income guidelines; any kindergarten through 12th grade students enrolled in Twin Rivers schools can receive supplies.
Area businesses and organizations will also provide services for students. Dr. Kingsley Bost of Kneibert Clinic, Dr. Angela Patterson of Puxico, Mo., and staff from the Physical Assessment and Rehab Center (PARC) will provide sports physicals from 3 to 7 p.m., which are required for all student athletes. Optometrist Tyler Tinsley Kramer will provide vision screenings and dentist Amy Rowland will provide dental screenings. The Butler County Health Department will offer immunizations for students, although a parent must be present with a student's immunization records.
Hester began what later morphed into the back-to-school fair by offering free hair cuts to students at Broseley Community Church three years ago. This year Hester will again be on hand with BRBA students to offer free hair cuts.
Black River Baptist Church's clothes closet also will be open for children who need back-to-school clothes. Area churches will be distributing personal hygiene products and other community offices and businesses will offer information about their services to students and their parents.
While at the fair, parents can enroll in a program that allows them to view their students' grades, homework, school news, activities, etc., through the school's website. Kindergarten through second grade teachers will be there to meet with parents and students.
Twin Rivers FFA members will grill hot dogs.
Last year's event provided school supplies for about 460 students, and this year organizers are planning for about 600.
"We figured this year, with the economy, it would be bigger," Worley said.
Worley said she received positive feedback after last year's fair.
"Lots of people were very excited and happy," she said.
"Some of the kids were so excited they got a backpack," Worley added. "One little girl said, 'Look Mom, I got a pink, beautiful backpack!'"
Entrance to the fair and all services are free. Organizers ask visitors to bring a canned good to help build a Broseley food pantry.
Although Worley said she does not anticipate running out of supplies, if that does happen students would be given vouchers so they can still have supplies before school starts.
The fair would not be possible without donations and volunteers, Worley said.
"We want to thank all the sponsors," she said. "We appreciate their support for our students because the kids are our future."
Donations are already being accepted to help make next year's fair even "bigger and better." Volunteers are still needed for Wednesday's event.
Area churches are offering bus services to the fair for those without transportation. For more information on the fair contact Ashcraft-Fincher at 573-328-4867, Worley at 573-718-8448 or Voyles at 573-785-7116.