Several organizations in Arnold and New Kensington are teaming up to make sure students are ready to go back to school.
Back to School is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 at Roosevelt Park in Arnold.
Students in the New Kensington-Arnold School District return to school on August 29.
This year, parents are scrambling to outfit their children for school amid rising inflation, which hit a new 40-year high in June. The National Retail Federation said families plan to spend an average of $864 on school supplies.
“We want to ease the burden on some of the families and make sure kids are equipped with what they need to start school,” said Donelle “Belle” Owen, executive director of The Youth Project in New Kensington.
Event sponsors include The Youth Project, Humble Ministries and Help the Needy Not the Greedy, providing the school supplies.
“It’s necessary, especially with the economic situation right now,” said Jerry Jefferson, pastor of Humble Ministries in New Kensington.
La Tomba is supplying backpacks; Mrs. Nix Event Center brings the games and bounce houses; and the members of the Missionary Baptist Church of Mt. Calvary are bringing food.
“Every agency is a resource to the community, and this is just one of the ways we give back,” Owen said.
Everything will be free and the event is open to anyone who needs help, Owen said.
There will be supplies for up to 300 kids, which is how many came to the party last year.
Other providers such as Highmark, UPMC and CareerLink will also be in attendance, Owen said.
Jefferson, whose nondenominational church was part of the effort last year, said he’s glad to be a part of the event because he wants to see the community come together.
“As long as you’re working with people who don’t care who gets the credit, it’s easy. It’s being done for the right reason,” he said. “There are people in the community who are really just for the community. It’s a blessing to see the kingdom in action.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian by email at brittmeyer@triblive.com or via Twitter .
