As students across Columbia and Marion County prepare for school to begin, thoughts are turning to the fading days of summer and school supplies.
An event Saturday at Duckworth Park will feature a chance for kids of all ages to have fun and head off to school with a backpack full of supplies. The Back 2 School Bash will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., and features a variety of activities and supplies, according to organizer Kendale Lumpkins.
“We have 100 backpacks now and maybe people will continue to send donations before Saturday,” Lumpkins said. “We started with a base number of 100, and we’re putting school supplies in them. They’ll be given away during the event.”
But Saturday’s Bash isn’t only about the school supplies, according to Lumpkins.
“We’re going to have a D.J. or the kids, food, some jumpers and other things,” he said. “We’re trying to empower the kids on their way back to school. Back 2 School Bash is to let the kids know that we care about them and that the community is going to be here to support them. We want to raise the awareness of education and show them how to conduct themselves in the right way. I think it’s going to be a good time. I’m not sure how many people will show up. But whoever shows up will enjoy it. We’re going to embrace the kids and send them off to school in the right way.”
Lumpkins said an organization that he founded, Dealing HOPE, LLC, is sponsoring the event.
“HOPE stands for Helping Other People Excel,” he said. “My wife, myself and some people in the community are helping with it. I just wanted to bring out some people in the community. It’s not about Kendale, it’s about everybody coming together to make this event a success as we continue to do this year in and year out.”
The Back 2 School Bash has had many offers of assistance, according to Lumpkins.
“I’ve had quite a few people donate,” he said. “People have donated school supplies and money. Anthony Alford, Misty Brown, Renee Watts, Patrick Tucker and other folks like that have been very generous. I’ve also been going around to businesses and they’ve helped out. I also have a young lady named Kija Weary, who spoke with me about being a part of this. It looks like there will be a lot of people helping out.”
Pictured Above: Kendale Lumpkins, seen here speaking with students at Columbia High School, is organizing the Back 2 School Bash set for this weekend in Duckworth Park. | Photo by Mark Rogers
