KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This time of year can be very stressful and expensive for parents who don’t have the means to buy supplies or pay for back-to-school expenses. A Kansas City councilman and hundreds of volunteers worked Saturday morning to make sure students don’t go back to school empty-handed.
Organizers hosted the seventh annual Back to School Bash at the Interscholastic League Fieldhouse in the 3500 block of East Meyer Boulevard. Families lined the building and sidewalks as students made their way inside to receive free school supplies, back packs, and haircuts. Nearly 4,000 students walked away with tools to tackle the start of the school year.
Single mother Naudia Fields, a mother of four, knows all too well the burden of the back-to-school season.
“It does make it a little more stressful having to include extra uniforms, supplies in the budget, things that they’re absolutely going to need. Benefits like this, it’s a great help, especially for single parents, it takes the load off,” said Fields.
KCMO City Councilman Michael Brooks organized this event.
“We can’t provide all the relief but any little bit that we can do to help. They’re not the generation of tomorrow. They’re here right now and with all the knowledge and technology that’s available, they have access to a lot more information that we did. I think it’s important that we give them the right information and get them prepared in the right way,” said Brooks.
Fields believes the interest from city leaders and volunteers inspires kids.
“I think it also helps give the students support and motivation that there are people out there that actually want to make sure that they have the necessary items to do good in school. You want to make sure that they have a good foundation, a good start. So that they can become good, productive members in society, and it starts with a good education and being prepared,” said Fields.
Organizers say this year’s turnout is the biggest yet. Students also received free required immunizations and physicals.
