Back to School Bash serves thousands of students
On Saturday, July 26, more than 6,000 people attended the fourth annual Springfield Public Schools Back to School Bash. Part kick-off celebration, part resource fair, the districtwide event helped SPS families start their back-to-school preparations on the right foot.
Community partners and volunteers helped distribute more than 4,500 backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils and crayons. Convoy of Hope provided more than 5,000 bags of groceries for the families at the event. The SPS nutrition team served more than 3,500 meals at the event. Care to Learn were also there to distribute:
- 5,000 hygiene kits
- 1,000 household cleaning kits
- 250 haircut vouchers
- 300 curly hair kits
- Feminine hygiene products
More than 30 nonprofits were also at the event to provide resources, giveaways and more.
"We're here to serve, and we are serving our community," said Superintendent Grenita Lathan. "It just makes me feel great to know that we have an opportunity to meet a need that our families have. I hope that the community understands that SPS cares about these children and their families, and we're here to serve."
Kids were also able to have some fun with inflatables, vehicles from the Springfield Fire Department and the Springfield Police Department, crafts, STEM activities and more!
Students return for the first day of school on Aug. 19.