8/2/07
County students will be ready to start school with free supplies
By Konstantin Vengerowsky
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Back-to-School bash organizers Crystal Haynes, Karen Hilton and Rob Jones instruct participants in last year’s event about school supplies disbursement. They are expecting an even bigger turn out this year. |
From games to door prizes, stranger danger, and many other fun activities, the “Back to School Bash,” sponsored by the Goodwill Freewill Baptist Church, will have many things to offer to Clarendon students when it takes place on Aug. 11.
According to Karen Hilton, one of the main organizers and vice president of the church’s mentoring department, the event is expected to attract anywhere between 800 and 1000 students.
“We gave out over 500 book-sacks last year filled with school supplies. We ran out and ended up having to fill up regular bags,” said Hilton. “So we’re expecting a pretty large turnout this year.”
Together with Rob Jones, president of the mentoring department, Hilton decided to expand the project to the community by hosting an event open to all students in Clarendon County.
Jones, who’s originally from New York, was involved in similar projects in his hometown.
“I just do it for the kids,” said Jones.
The mentoring department, which Jones and Hilton are in charge of, exists to boost children’s self esteem, help them with their socialization skills, as well as teach them how to grow spiritually and physically.
“Our main goal is to direct them in the right path, and redirect them if they had been misled,” said Hilton.
The bash is one of the big projects that the mentoring department manages. The department had been conducting similar events at the Goodwill Church until last year, when the bash was first held at the Cypress Center.
“We had been passing out school supplies to children who couldn’t afford it within our church, and decided it was time to give the same opportunity to all kids in our community,” said Hilton.
Even though there was some local support that helped with the sponsorship of the event last year, Jones and Hilton ended up providing most of the supplies from their own pockets.
“Wal-mart gave us discounts on some of the supplies,” Hilton said. “A local bank donated bags, and we had some law offices that provided financial support.”
Jones said that although the support from these places of business was appreciated, he hopes for more of the community’s involvement this year.
“A lot of people say they want to help, but they just don’t show it,” he said. “I just wish more people in the community would contribute to this cause.”
Last year’s event was full of excitement, with many activities to keep everyone busy.
“We had door prizes, dance competitions and many games that both children as well as their parents could participate in,” said Hilton.
There was also an officer on site from the Manning Police Department to talk about the importance of stranger danger.
To raise funds for this year’s events, the mentoring department decided to host a basketball tournament that’s open to everyone in the community. There is a $20 entry fee and all proceeds will go to this year’s bash as well as the Cypress Foundation.
“We decided to host a basketball tournament so children would be able to interact with the leaders in our community and we would be able to raise the necessary funds,” Hilton said.
All Clarendon County students grades kindergarten through 12th are welcome to attend the Second Annual Back to School Bash, which will be held at the Cypress Center, Aug. 11, from 1-6 p.m. The Basketball One-Day Tournament will be held Aug. 3, at Manning Junior High School, at 7 p.m. Admission price is a $7 donation for adults and a $3 donation for children. All proceeds will go to this year’s Back-to-School Bash and the Cypress Foundation.
Anyone interested in making a donation to this year’s bash should make their check payable to Goodwill Freewill Baptist Church and indicate “Mentoring Department” on the check. All donations should be mailed to Goodwill Freewill Baptist Church, Mentoring Department, 1329 Goodwill Church Road, Manning, S.C. 29102. |
