Children got free supplies in a back-to-school event on Friday in Southern Illinois

The event was organized at Marion Office of Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department. Hundreds of children attended the event with their families and got back to school supplies from there.

The event was organized by the Franklin-Williamson Positive Youth Development Action Team and Southern Illinois University Carbondale Dental Hygiene Program. Carrie Eldridge and Brittney Hale were the co-chairs of the event. Eldridge said, “This event is a family-friendly event which is designed to strengthen and connect the family unit”. Hale said, “Children got a fun event and different community partners acted as vendors in this event”.

Kevin Kaytor, the administrator of Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department, said that the event had the purpose to help people living in different communities and it was in line with the mission of the department. Kaytor said, “We have a beautiful day. Our community really came together to have a successful event”.

In the back-to-school event, 37 vendors participated who serve families and communities organizations. Children got different school supplies in free from these vendors. The supplies included pencils, backpacks, glue sticks, and many more such items. Some vendors organized some games for the kids and gave them the supplies as a prize. Lion Club provided free eye screening to the children. Dr. Amy Wyatt screened the teeth of the children in free in the back-to-school event.

Hundreds of children visited the event with their families. Supplies were running short at several stops. Karen Santos of IlliniCare said, “We had to send someone out as we ran out of the supplies”. Director Lori Longueville said, “It has been great to see everyone kind, patient, and appreciative”. Overall, it was a great event for the kids before going back to the schools.