Back to School Blast takes off Aug. 6
Children in need from all over the lakes area will be welcomed Saturday morning, Aug. 6, to the Back to School Blast (B2SB), sponsored by Highland Lakes Health Partnership (HLHP).
The event will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Marble Falls Middle School, 1511 Pony Drive, behind the H-E-B store and a health fair has been added to this 6th annual event.
Inside the school gymnasium will be more than 1,500 back packs full of school supplies, along with shoes and socks and services for students in PreK – 12th grade, all sponsored by area churches and the Highland Lakes Health Partnership.
“This is not limited to children in the Marble Falls Independent School District,” said Cathy Lemlyn, community outreach coordinator for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, an HLHP member. “Twenty percent of about 2,000 people who came last year were from outside town.”
Supplies and services must go directly into children's hands, so the adults accompanying about 1,200 children went in to that total of attendees. Some 800 pairs of shoes were distributed last year and a shoe drive has been trying to prepare for 1,200 new or gently work pairs this year to go with a hefty supply of new socks. Everything is provided on a first-come-first-served basis, so early birds may find the best fit in shoes.
The majority of HLHP member organizations are from health-related fields and this year they are also joining to sponsor a health fair with free vision and dental screenings and Seton Care-a-Van appointments. The Marble Falls EMS will be conducting child car seat checks and, in some cases offering a replacement unit.
A total of 23 vendors will be providing all kinds of information, free haircuts and even snacks. Hope in Motion, a non-profit dance ministry, will be at the event giving away dance scholarships.
“Parking was an issue last year,” said Lemlyn. “This year we will also will use the H-E-B parking lot on the east side of Bluebonnet Drive and we have a golf cart shuttle for anyone who has difficulty with the walk to the school.”
B2SB was begun by Lake Shores Church, which has been joined by many others, including the Marble Falls First Baptist Church, the Church at Horseshoe Bay and the Church of Christ, sponsor of the shoe drive. To become part of the ministry, email jennifer@lakeshoreschurch.com for more information.
