Outreach Community Center announces 13th annual Back to School Bash; seeks community donations
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
The Outreach Community Center (OCC) will host its 13th annual Back to School Bash on Friday, August 11 from 5-7 p.m. at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Winchester.
According to the OCC’s Marsha Mayner, the organization anticipates serving the back-to-school needs of hundreds of local school children.
“In past years, we’ve served more than 350 people at this annual event,” Mayner said. “This year we may have even more. Our economy is still not the best. We still have a lot of struggling families.”
The idea for the Back to School Bash grew, Mayner said, out of the mission work done by the Mayner family.
“It goes back to the story of Kenny and I having done a lot of missions across the country and internationally,” Mayner said. “But when we got back home, we saw that the need was just as great right here at home. For the last thirteen years we’ve been able to serve our community and our neighboring communities.”
Mayner said the Back to School Bash is open to all school-age children.
“It’s open to all kids from kindergarten through high school,” Mayner said.
Attendees at the Back to School Bash will receive school supplies, including a backpack along with essential items required for each grade.
“Basically it’s their backpack and everything thing they’ll need – everything from crayons, to scissors, paper, and tissues,” Mayner said
In addition, Mayner said that the OCC will provide attendees with personal hygiene products, such as deodorant and toothpaste.
The goal of the Back to School Bash, according to Mayner, is to position all students for success as they start a new school year.
“We don’t want a child to not be able to be successful, because they don’t have school supplies,” Mayner said. “It’s a small thing we can do to help all kids succeed.”
Attendees will also be fed hot dogs, refreshments and healthy snacks. Games and activities for attendees will be held to entertain those in attendance. In addition, the fire department will be on hand to teach families and children about fire safety and prevention.
“We usually have the fire department to talk about fire safety and to do activities to give the kids something to do,” Mayner said.
Funding for the school supply giveaway is generated through various fundraising activities put on by the center throughout the year as well as donations from individuals and businesses.
There is no charge for any of the items or activities and everyone is welcome.
Mayner indicated that donations for the Back to School Bash from individuals, businesses, churches, and other organizations are welcome.
“Individuals or groups can donate monetarily,” Mayner said. “Or if a church or other group wants to help collect school supplies that is welcome too. We ask that we receive all donations by August 4th.”
About Outreach Community Center
The mission of the Outreach Community Center is reaching out to meet the needs of our community. Established in 2011. The Outreach Community Center holds events and food giveaways monthly to help alleviate the burden of daily needs within our community.
The Outreach Community Center is located at 31 S. Main Street, Winchester.
