Transcript Staff
It's first-come, first-serve, but members and volunteers at the Alameda Church of Christ are inviting the community to come and receive free school supplies, haircuts and food at their Back to School Roundup. The free event begins promptly at 10 a.m. Aug. 13.
Approximately 300 backpacks will be given away, filled with school supplies. No income requirements will be needed to be met and no advance registration is necessary, said organizer John Helton. In addition to the give-away, haircuts and trims can be performed as well as mini-courses for parents will be offered. Local nonprofit agencies will display information ranging from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program to the Department of Human Services. Information about credit counseling, food ministries, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cleveland County and other agencies will be available. The Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program assists families with students in the 8th, 9th and 10th grades whose income is $50,000 or less to earn free college tuition.
"We basically thought, 'What do we do to get our kids ready for school?' and we decided to offer other services and booths to have available for families," Helton said. "A lot of these agencies we've worked with at the church."
Door prizes will be given away at the event and a number of carnival-type games and activities will be set up for children including a moon bounce and a slide. Free food, including cotton candy and popcorn is offered.
Helton said approximately 60 volunteers are helping with the program and the ultimate goal is "to help as many people as possible."
"Many people are too embarrassed to get on the phone to make calls to get some help," Helton said. "But we hope that we've assembled everything here to do that."
For more information call Alameda Church of Christ at 321-0788. The church is located at 801 East Alameda St.
