Back to School Bash to prepare Lake County children in need for school year

Jul. 30—Lake County's annual Back to School Bash returns on Aug. 3, providing local children in need with access to school supplies, health services and more.

The free event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harvey High School, 200 W. Walnut Ave., Painesville. Organizers are planning to serve around 2,000 students this year, said Lake County Jobs and Family Services Director Suzanne Casar.

"We're hoping to set the children up in our community for success for the coming school year," Casar said. "We really want children to start their first day of school off on a positive note, feeling confident and ready to have a great school year."

The Back to School Bash will offer free haircuts, dental services, vision screenings, family photos, clothes and books, according to an event flyer. The Salvation Army will provide free school supplies as long as supplies are available.

Organizers will provide a line for families that want to pick up a backpack and school supplies without attending the rest of the event, Casar added.

Free vaccinations will also be available for children ages 4 to 18 if parents or caregivers register by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 1. They can register by calling Lake County General Health District Clinical Health Services at 440-350-2554.

Parents or caregivers can also pre-register children in grades 7-12 for sports screenings while spots are available. QR codes to pre-register and access consent forms in English and Spanish can be found on the event flyer, which was posted to the Salvation Army Painesville Facebook page on July 28.

The flyer stated that the Back to School Bash will also offer a free breakfast and lunch.

"We're hoping to have a very similar setup to what families have been used to for the past couple of years," Casar said. "We are going to be offering a variety of services to help children get prepared for the start of the school year."

She added that people looking to contribute to this year's Back to School Bash can provide children's clothing to the United Way of Lake County. Clothes for boys ages 3-10 are most needed right now.

Members of the public can also contribute school supplies to the Salvation Army Painesville Corps. A flyer listing needed school supplies and ways that people can donate was posted to the group's Facebook page on July 28.

The event is being organized by Lake County Job and Family Services, the Lake County Family and Children First Council and the Salvation Army Painesville Corps, Casar said. Many other organizations and volunteers are contributing to the event.

Last year marked the return of the full Back to School Bash after the COVID-19 pandemic. Casar said that the 2023 event served around 2,300 people, making it the most well-attended Back to School Bash.

"We are really just looking to serve any child in Lake County that needs to get ready for the school year, as well as helping their family members to prepare for the school year," she added. "It's nice to have everything under one roof."

Originally Published: July 30, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.