MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Families across Reno County will have an opportunity to receive free school supplies, clothing, food and community resources this weekend during the annual Back-to-School Rally hosted by Foundation of Life Ministries and HOPE Reno County.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Salthawk Activity Center next to Hutchinson High School. Organizers say no registration is required, and everything will be provided free on a first-come, first-served basis. They recommend arriving around 3:30 p.m. because they're expecting at least 500 families.
Foundation of Life Ministries Executive Director JK Vann says the event is about much more than handing out backpacks. He says many families are facing difficult choices between paying bills, buying groceries and purchasing school supplies. By providing those essentials, organizers hope to ease some of that financial burden and help students start the school year ready to learn.
In addition to school supplies, families will find free clothing, food distribution, bounce houses for children and representatives from several nonprofit organizations offering information about services available throughout the community. The goal, Vann says, is to support the entire family, not just students.
The ministry says community support has been overwhelming. Local churches, businesses, organizations and volunteers have donated enough to purchase everything needed for this year's event, and additional volunteers are still welcome.
This marks the ministry's third year providing back-to-school assistance. Organizers hope to continue expanding the effort beyond Hutchinson into rural communities across Reno County in the years ahead.