CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — As Habersham County families prepare for the start of a new school year, First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville is once again inviting them to spend a day enjoying free food, games and activities while picking up backpacks, headphones and other school essentials.
RELATED Northeast Georgia Back-to-School Guide
The church’s second annual Back-to-School Festival will be held Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 181 Jefferson St. Organizers say the event is designed to complement the Habersham County School District’s Habersham Ready initiative by providing personal items not included in the district’s free school supply program while connecting families with local organizations that serve the community year-round.
“Our desire to meet a need in our community and a neighbor,” Pastor the Rev. Dr. Matthew Henderson said.
Henderson said First Presbyterian hopes to be known as a trusted community partner and resource for local families. He said the church wants to foster a spirit of neighbors helping neighbors, regardless of whether families attend services at First Presbyterian.
The inaugural festival drew about 100 children and their parents despite sweltering temperatures. Families received free backpacks, school supplies, water bottles and headphones while enjoying games, face painting, a bounce house, free hot dogs and Kona Ice.
This year’s festival will feature many of the same activities while expanding its partnerships with local nonprofit organizations. Volunteers for Literacy will distribute free books, while the Habersham Humane Society, Sharing and Caring, Circle of Hope, the Family Resource Center and MedLink will offer activities for children and information for parents.
Henderson said several of those organizations approached the church after learning about the festival and asked how they could help.
“A lot of these groups give help, and they’re a big part of our community,” Henderson said.
He said First Presbyterian is happy to provide a place where those organizations can connect with families and share the resources they offer throughout the year. If the church can help facilitate assistance for those in need, Henderson said, it is glad to serve in that role.
Organizers also made changes based on lessons learned from last year’s event. Henderson said the church decided to upgrade the quality of the backpacks it distributes, choosing JanSport backpacks this year.
“For our backpacks we wanted to be generous with our community, as God is generous with us,” Henderson said.
The church’s giveaway is intended to complement the school district’s Habersham Ready initiative rather than duplicate it. While the district will provide essential classroom supplies to every student before classes begin Aug. 7, personal items such as bookbags and headphones are not included in the program. Those items are among those First Presbyterian will provide while supplies last for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“We are, once again, able to supply classroom/school supplies for all K-12 students,” Assistant Superintendent David Leenman told Now Georgia. “Items such as notebooks, paper, colored pencils, scissors, etc. will be provided. Personal items such as headphones, water bottles, and book bags will not be provided as students like to pick their own.”
Those personal items are among those First Presbyterian plans to distribute during Saturday’s festival, along with additional school supplies for children in kindergarten through fifth grade while supplies last.
For Henderson, the festival is about more than preparing children for the first day of school.
“We want to celebrate our community and this event opens ourselves up so that people may form a relationship with us,” he said. “They are loved by God and we love them too.”
School starts August. 7
Habersham County students return to class Aug. 7. The school district will give additional information regarding free classroom supplies during open house at each school before the first day of classes.
Open house schedules are:
- Elementary schools: Aug. 5, 3-6 p.m.
- Habersham Ninth Grade Academy/Success Academy: Aug. 5, 4-6 p.m.
- Habersham Central High School: Aug. 5, 5-8 p.m.
- Middle schools: Aug. 6, 3-6 p.m.
Not from Habersham? Click here to view our Northeast Georgia Back-to-School Events Guide.
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