“LOOKIN’ SHAAAARP!” Kristi Grubbs of Kristi’s Hair Studio, with Ethan in the chair, and Angela Starr of Faded Haircuts for Men, with Lilly, made sure Woodford County students start the school year with a fresh look at the Family Fest Back to School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 1. Maggy Dunlap, an officer with the Woodford County Salvation Army Service Unit, is on clean-up duty— and based on the pile of hair, everyone had a busy day. (Photo by Scott White)
NECCO, one of several nonprofit organizations was on hand to give out candy and other goodies to students. (Photo by Scott White)
A LARGE CROWD of well over 500 Woodford County students and family members enjoyed all the Family Fest Back to School Bash offered to help them get ready for the new school year. (Photo by Scott White)
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff
Report for American Corp Member
The Huffman Pavilion at the Falling Springs Parks & Recreation Center was jam-packed with students and families taking advantage of being gifted nearly everything needed to start the new school year this past Saturday morning.
The Woodford County Salvation Army Service Unit, in partnership with the Versailles Fraternal Order of Firefighters and Bluegrass Community Action, hosted the third annual Family Fest Back to School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 1, serving well over 500 students and their families.
“This provides local students with an enriching start to the school year . . . and connects families with valuable community resources, school faculty, free haircuts, vision screenings and lots of fun activities,” said Salvation Army Chair Debbie Tichenor.
To get ready for the event, Tichenor, with a big assist from Deann Watts, the Family Resource Center coordinator for Southside and Huntertown elementary schools, organized a large group of volunteers to meet at the old Woodford County High School to pre-pack all of the backpacks with supplies, and then the firefighters transported everything to the park. The Woodford County Maintenance Department employees and the Class D Felon Community Service workers did the setup. So by Saturday morning, rain or shine, everything was ready.
The Salvation Army invested $6,000 in the event, which came in part from the annual holiday Red Kettle Campaign. This, said Tichenor, “demonstrates how two local kettle donation drives at the Versailles Kroger Marketplace, along with generous donations from local churches and nonprofits, keep the money local.”
In addition to the high-quality backpacks purchased by the firefighters, which were stuffed with school supplies and a Versailles Fire Department water bottle, the Kiwanis Club performed over 50 vision screenings, which resulted in 14 referrals for vision correction, and Versailles hair stylists Kristi Grubbs of Kristi’s Hair Studio, Angela Starr of Faded Haircuts for Men, and Greg Wells gave countless free haircuts to kids for that perfect “back to school” look.
The event also provided fun activities, including coloring contests, squirt gun games for rubber duckies, a DJ playing music and a free lunch.
Woodford County Public School representatives were on hand too, with information for parents and free giveaways . . . with one being a Woodford County school t-shirt for every student.
“The t-shirt is a big deal. Many of our families simply cannot afford to purchase a Woodford County t-shirt, especially those with multiple children,” said Deann Watts. “This gives our students an opportunity to be able to participate in school spirit days and feel a greater connection to our community.”
Other groups participating in the event include: the Versailles Lions Club, NECCO, which offers foster care supports, New Vista, Woodford County Health Department, Woodford County HANDS program, Woodford County Youth Engagement Project (YEP), Mentors & Meals, Versailles Presbyterian Household Pantry, Kynect, Relatives as Parents and Centerpoint Health-Versailles.
The Family Fest Back to School Bash exhibited what Woodford County is all about: a community of love, care and support.
While marveling at the breadth of support, Tichenor articulated well the motivation of everyone involved: “We are giving every child the opportunity to start the school year prepared and on equal footing.”