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Help Pack-The-Bus All Over Boone, Blowing Rock: School Supplies Needed for Aug. 9 Back 2 School Festival

July 22, 2014. With just a little over two weeks remaining until the Watauga County Back 2 School Festival, organizers have made it easier than ever to help Pack-the-Bus with school supplies. While the big yellow school bus will continue to be in the Yadkin Bank parking lot until August 5th, there are now collection bins placed throughout Watauga County to make collection drop offs easier for those wishing to donate school supplies.

New title sponsor Footsloggers is leading the collection efforts at both their Boone and Blowing Rock locations. In addition to Footsloggers, individuals wishing to donate school supplies can drop them off at Sweet Frog, Boone Mall, Boone Police Department, Bluebird Exchange, The Children’s Playhouse, Tar Heel Basements, Food Lion, Van Huesen, Mary’s Montessori, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Boone Unitarian Universalist and all Boone Drug locations.  A complete list of needed school supplies can be found at http://www.back2schoolfestival.org/school-supply-lists/

“The average school supply list contains more than 31 items and costs over $100 per child,” states Quiet Givers founder and festival organizer Amber Batemen. “And that doesn’t include other items needed to start school like haircuts, clothes, shoes and socks, school fees and more.”

The Back 2 School Festival seeks to streamline Watauga County school readiness efforts in order to have greater impact in the community. It is designed to help relieve any family struggling to afford the high costs of back-to-school shopping, give each child the much-needed boost of confidence to succeed in the coming school year and to help teachers equip their classrooms for a year of learning.

The free festival, organized by Quiet Givers, The Children’s Council, Western Youth Network, Hospitality House, Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, Appalachian District Health Department and Watauga County Schools, will take place Saturday, August 9 at the Watauga County high school gym from 10:00AM to 3:00PM with a special hour from 9:00-10:00AM for children with special needs.

The festival will offer free backpacks, school supplies, professional haircuts, shoes from Samaritan’s Feet, book giveaways, fun activities, beneficial information and healthy lunch provided by EarthFare and Hospitality House.  Additionally, once at the festival, children in need of clothing will be registered to win Gift Certificates to Goodwill, Freedom Farm Ministry, Bare Bones Boutique and Salvation Army thrift shops.

Parents are asked to pre-register their children so that organizers will know how many to expect and can have the correct shoes sizes on hand. To pre-register go online at http://www.back2schoolfestival.org/registeryourchild/ or call The Children’s Council at (828) 262-5424.

“If every child in Watauga County can start school feeling confident and prepared, then we’ve achieved our goal,” states Bateman.

To get involved and learn more about the B2S Festival visit, http://www.back2schoolfestival.org/

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