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Photo submitted by Stephanie Anderson -- New Grace Baptist Woman’s Ministry and youth pack backpacks Wednesday evening with school supplies that will be given away Saturday at the Interlachen Soup Kitchen from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Local organizers are making an effort to ease the pain for Putnam County students not ready for summer to end and the new school year to begin Aug. 10.
That effort includes hosting fun days and giving away free backpacks and school supplies over the next couple of weekends. Among those events is a special giveaway for teachers which will take place at 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday at Palatka Coffee Co., 3711 Crill Ave.
The Education Foundation of Putnam County, HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka and the Rotary Club of Palatka are sponsoring the event. Supplies are limited.
Lalita Thomas, coordinator for the Palatka Police Athletic League’s Back to School Bookbag & Clothing Giveaway on Saturday said her organization has been hosting this event for a decade. The giveaway will start at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Family Life Center, 1414 Bronson St. in Palatka.
“With this giveaway, we hope to ease the minds of parents or guardians that their youth receive the necessary supplies to be successful,” she said.
Thomas hopes the event will not only offer needed help, but be a fun time for area youth, too.
“The youth will have the opportunity to play in a bounce house, touch a fire truck or other vehicles, eat hotdogs and chips with a bottle of water,” she said.
More than 20 organizations will be providing additional resources to the community, as well the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church food pantry and clothes closet will be open for those in need.
School supplies will include paper, folders, spiral notebooks and crayons, among other items students will need for the upcoming academic year.
“This event is open to everyone,” Thomas said. “Our goal is always to give away 500 backpacks, but this year, we have had to increase to 600.”
In West Putnam, the Interlachen Soup Kitchen, 155 N. County Road 315, is teaming up with New Grace Baptist Church for its End of Summer Back to School Bash from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday at the soup kitchen.
“We will have water slides, free haircuts, arts and crafts, music and dance, and school supplies,” said Dave Yonts, the director of the soup kitchen. “This is the second year we have given out bookbags and decided this year to partner with the church to help us provide even more.”
St. Vincent de Paul Society Thrift Store, 111 North Francis St. in Interlachen, will have a school supply giveaway from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The plan, officials said, is to give out 200 bags of school supplies.
“We have done this for years,” said Bud Surratt, president of St. Vincent de Paul. “It’s something we hope will help.”
Other events are planned in Melrose, Crescent City and other areas in Palatka.
Yontz said organizers are planning to hand out more than 100 backpacks this weekend.
“We definitely hope this will be a big help to parents on the money they will save on school supplies,” he said. “We want to lighten their burden and help them so they can spend money for the kids on other expenses and maybe buy them a pair of new shoes.”
Yonts hopes the giveaway will also be a fun time for kids.
“I like to see kids have fun instead of just saying, ‘Oh boy, we have to go back to school.’”
The following back-to-school events are being planned:
Friday and Saturday
The St Vincent de Paul Society, 111 N. Francis St., will give out school supplies from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The giveaway is open to everyone.
Palatka Coffee Co., 3711 Crill Ave. in Palatka, invites all area teachers to come by and pick up free teaching supplies from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday
The Palatka Police Athletic League will host a Back To School Bookbag & Clothing Giveaway starting at 10 a.m., while supplies last, at the Family Life Center, 1414 Bronson St. in Palatka. The food pantry will also be open with free food. For details, call police Capt. Toby Williams at 386-972-0880 or organizer Lalita Thomas at 386-546-0011.
Victory Worship Center’s Back 2 School Bash will be from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 1022 Huntington Road in Crescent City. Highlights include Christian music, food and drinks, handmade crafts, backpack giveaway and more. The public is invited.
The Interlachen Soup Kitchen and New Grace Baptist Church are teaming up to host its End of Summer Back to School Bash from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 155 N. County Road 315 in Interlachen. There will be water slides, free haircuts, arts and crafts, and a school supply giveaway.
Grace Life Church, 1008 S. State Road 19 in Palatka, will have its Back to School Giveaway from 10 a.m. – noon Saturday while supplies last. Everyone is invited.
Sunday
Backpacks Full of Fun 2023 will be from noon – 5 p.m. at the Price-Martin Community Center, 220 N. 11th St. in Palatka. Highlights include activities and games from 3–5 p.m. followed by the backpack giveaways. Free food, drinks, music and family fun are included. For details, contact Marion Session at 386-336-5539 or on Facebook or call Lakesha Session at 386-916-0809.
Tuesday
Ameris Bank and United Way of St. Johns County will host a Back To School Backpack and Supplies Giveaway promoting financial literacy activity from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., while supplies last, at 601 Reid St. in Palatka. Donations for the giveaway are being accepted at 601 Reid St. and 100 N. State Road in Palatka. Children must be present to receive backpacks and supplies.
Aug. 12
A Back to School Giveaway will be from 10 a.m. – noon at Williamson’s Lot, 840 N. State Road 21 in Melrose. School supplies will be handed out and students must be present to receive them. Everyone is invited. For details, call Marilyn Baker at 352-214-0181.
