Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 119. No.31	August 4 , 2010

Community assists families as they
prepare for the 2010-2011 school year

Some 5,077 Meade County children return to school today, following what seemed like a short summer vacation.

“It does seem like it went by quick,” said Danita Smallwood, Ekron. “We’re just about ready, though – we’ve gotten shoes and clothes, and plan to go to the open house at Ekron Elementary.”
Smallwood was attending a “Back-To-School Bash” with her 4th-grade daughter, Brianna Barker.

“I”m excited about going back,” said Barker. “I like school a lot.”

Smallwood commended the activities the school district has set up.

“We liked the Halloween event at the high school last year, and I feel like everyone is really interested in getting to know us as a family and her as a student. This event today is a great family outing.”
Several stations were set up to provide information, and pizza was offered for lunch.
Screeners from Eye Associates were onhand to conduct vision screening, and Kellie Conley, Meade County High School nurse, reviewed immunization forms and gave guidance about medications, alcohol abuse, and other subjects. Backpacks with supplies were offered to elementary students, along with donated school uniforms.

According to Debbie Canavera, Stuart Pepper Middle School youth resource center, around 200 people took advantage of the offerings.

Elsewhere in the community, other agencies were also assisting those preparing for the new school year.
For over 10 years, local children have benefited from the generosity of members of Glad Tidings Christian Center through the church’s “Back to School Outreach Program.”

On July 31, 29 kids from Meade County received backpacks filled with school supplies to begin the 2010-2011 school year. Each backpack contained pens, pencils, notebook paper, crayons, erasers, a ruler, markers, highlighters, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues and a pen and pencil pouch – all the materials students need in order to start the school year off right.

According to Glad Tidings member, Marsha Johnson, the supplies were purchased at Wal-Mart and Walgreens through donations provided by members of the congregation. “We ask the parents of the children to provide a supply list that their kids will need. Then people from the church adopt a family – much like the Angel Tree program,” Johnson explained Johnson and fellow church member, Kristen Logsdon, greeted the families as they entered the activity center and offered them hot dogs, chips and a drink.

“Most of the people who get the backpacks are those who come to get food from our food pantry on Tuesdays. We see a lot of people at our food pantry and it’s growing. We service around 70 families a week. So, when they came in to get food, we told them about the backpack program.”

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