Back-to-school time is just around the corner, and the Stone County School Readiness Fair will be held Friday, August 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Testament Christian Church, 21016 Main St. in Reeds Spring.
Sponsored by Unite Table Rock Lake, the fair brings together area churches, businesses, organizations and individuals to help make sure kids in need have the supplies they need to succeed at school, as well as some new clothing, tennis shoes, underwear and a fresh haircut to help them start the year with confidence.
To be eligible, children must qualify for free or reduced-price lunch through the school. In the current economic climate, more families are eligible than ever before: In 2022, 213 children were served; that number doubled to 438 in 2023 and even more are expected this year.
Besides school supplies, some amazing community partners contribute extra services. Kids get to experience back-to-school shopping, starting with selecting their own backpack and then visiting each booth for supplies or services—hygiene items, hairbrushes and combs; underwear, shoes and clothing; food boxes; and school swag or spirit wear including T-shirts, which many families have gratefully acknowledged in the past, saying they could not afford one otherwise.
Also included will be haircuts, basic eye exams and sports physicals, and a meal while the family is there. There will be a total of 61 booths this year, for an awesome experience. While Galena and Blue Eye schools have resources in place for school supplies, these students and families are still invited to come for the extra services.
Registration is open now through July 31, at www.sscfpd.org. Only registered participants will shop from 8 a.m. to 12 noon; walk-ins will be accepted along with registered participants from noon until 2 p.m.; however, walk-ins are not guaranteed to be able to receive a backpack, depending on the number of participants.
If your business or group is looking for a way to get more involved in the community, don’t miss this opportunity to be a sponsor and help Stone County kids feel loved and valued! Sponsorships are still needed, particularly for school swag and spirit wear, and volunteers are always needed as well. Learn more by visiting Unite Table Rock Lake on Facebook, or email unitetrl@gmail.com.
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