Thank you to everyone for making the 4th Annual Back to School Blowout a success! Nearly 1,500 individuals were in attendance on July 28, not including the numerous volunteers and 30 plus vendors and their booth attendees representing various businesses and organizations that work within the areas of children and family resources. Nearly $5,000 was raised to further support Effingham CONNECT’s HELP (Hope for Everyone Looking for Provisions) Program.
Thank you to Clarence Morgan and staff of the Effingham Recreation and Parks for collaborating with United Way’s Effingham CONNECT once again to organize this community event. As the event has grown, we had to make adjustments and change the venue. Thank you to Yancy Ford and the Effingham County Board of Education for allowing us to utilize Effingham County High School, which proved to be a great location.
880 children, up from 646 in 2014, received free back to school resources ranging from school supplies to haircuts, thanks to the partnerships and donations of the community partners listed below:
Amerigroup Community Care, Ameris Bank, Dairy Queen, Effingham CONNECT, Effingham County BOE Dept. of Exceptional Children, Effingham County BOE (Homeless Liaison), Effingham County BOE Title I, Effingham County School Nutrition, Effingham Recreation & Parks Department, Effingham RSM Project, Effingham YMCA, Empowering Lives, Family Promise of Effingham County, Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education, Goodwill of the Coastal Empire, Grace Cares, Holy Temple Christian Mission, Jumping Jacks Family Fun Center, Live Oak Public Libraries, Manna House Ministries, Parent University Effingham, Peach State Health Plan, Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, Rincon Packaging & Shipping, RSM Project and Effingham Health Department, SEEDCO (Structured Employment & Economic Development), Social Apostolate, Teach Right, LLC, Walgreens Pharmacy, Wal-Mart, WellCare of Georgia.
Barbers/Stylists: Cuts by Eric, Pete’s Cut & Style, Salon J Hair Spa, Salon Nevaeh.
Thank you to Sports Clips and Savannah Technical College for providing hair cut vouchers.
A big “Thank you” goes out to Amerigroup Community Care, Walmart, Manna House Ministries, Peach State, Coca Cola and Domino’s for providing food for the attendees and volunteers. We listened to feedback from last year’s attendees who stood in long lines without water before coming into the event and Amerigroup Community Care rose to the occasion and provided a hydration station and popcorn machine outside for those individuals waiting in line. Thank you also to Strickland Funeral Home for providing tents to shelter those waiting in the registration line.
Anyone who has cooked for large masses knows that it takes lots of behind the scenes time, prep and energy to pull off such a fete. So, thank you to Nick Springer of Treutlen House and his team for grilling the hotdogs. Thank you also to Brenda Bruner of Effingham Recreation and Parks, Effingham County Seasonal Workers and 4-H for preparing and packing the bagged meals.
The crowd was kept amply entertained by DJ Terrie Wooten. There was face painting, games and raffle-giveaways every 15 minutes! Even FANG the mascot for Jumping Jacks Family Fun Center made an appearance. Thanks to Amerigroup Community Care, Ashley Boyette-State Farm, Dairy Queen, Effingham RSM Project, Effingham YMCA, Jumping Jacks, Rincon Packaging & Shipping, Salon J, Salon Nevaeh, Savannah Technical College, Sports Clips, and Teach Right for making the event full of family fun for everyone.
Thank you to the following youth groups for participating and making a difference: Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scout Troop 165 and 4-H juniors and seniors.
A BIG “thank you” to our Platinum Partners for providing school supplies, refreshments, food, entertainment, man-power and the venue:
• Amerigroup Community Care
• Effingham County Board of Education
• Effingham County Recreation & Parks
• Wal-Mart
• Manna-House Ministries
I can’t end this “thank you” without stressing how many volunteer hours are accumulated by community organizations and volunteers leading up to event day. Thank you to Ebenezer Retreat Center, Effingham Youth Group, GRACE Cares, Gulfstream Community Volunteer Program, United Way Hands On Savannah, many of the Effingham CONNECT participants and my family and friends for raising funds, filling book bags, running errands and the countless other tasks that were done without hesitation. Thank you!
Of course, there’s always room for improvement. Next year…more tents outside and we’ll iron out the kinks with pre-registration!
Destiny Bradshaw is the Program Manager for Effingham CONNECT (Community Network Navigation Center) & H.E.L.P. (Hope for Everyone Looking for Provisions).
-SAVE THE DATE-
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
5th Annual Back to School Blowout