‘Day of Hope’ event helps families prepare for upcoming school year
Rob Zolman
Various church and civic groups organized to help prepare students and their families for the new school year by handing out free school supplies during Saturday’s Day of Hope event.
Rob Zolman
A youngster is all smiles behind the wheel of a fire truck during Saturday’s Day of Hope event.
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POLSON — After missing out last year, Day of Hope back-to-school wellness fair, a major community event to help prepare students and families for the new school year, returned to the downtown streets of Polson on Saturday.
New Life Church, along with various local faith and community-based organizations, partnered to help ease the cost of back-to-school shopping, while also providing a day of fun for students before heading back to class.
More than 500 backpacks full of school supplies were given away, including erasers, folders, notebooks and pencils. Event organizer Jason Burrough, New Life Church community and student ministries pastor, explained that the free backpacks and back-to-school items will help families as their students head into the school year.
“By giving away free backpacks, parents won't have to worry about where the money is going to come from for school supplies and backpacks. It's going to get them started out,” said Burrough. “That’s why we call it the day of hope.”
Along with the free backpacks, various groups provided other back-to-school essentials like socks, rain boots and shoes.
The free family-friendly event also featured live music, kid games, an inflatable jump house, food truck vendors and a demonstration of strength by Tribal Waves. “It’s a day to come in and just have fun," said Burrough.
The event included an opportunity for kids and their families to learn about health and safety. Health check-ups and free COVID-19 vaccinations were available, along with hands-on equipment demonstrations from area first responders.
“Seeing something like this event is great for our community,” said Polson Chief of Police Wade Nash. “It brings together our community and public service organizations that are here to help individuals in our community. Quite often people forget these resources even exist in our community.”
