Hundreds of people lined up outside Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk Friday afternoon, with the earliest arriving about 90 minutes before the annual “Back to School Festival” began. The event helps parents and guardians prepare for the new school year while giving kids a chance to have some fun with their friends.
Jacyln Lansing, the new Executive Director of the United Way of the Great River Region, said the festival was open to all school-age children from Lee, Hancock, and Clark Counties.
Lansing said volunteers worked for months to collect the school supplies and backpacks that were given away during the festival. She said value of the giveaways ranged from $35 to $75.
“Part of the reason that [this] happens is because when we were in school, the school supply list was very simple,” said Lansing. “Nowadays, you’ve got dry erase markers, you’ve got red pens, you’ve got certain kinds of notebooks or folders that have to be in that backpack. For some families, it’s very difficult to get all of these school supplies, on top of registration fees, shoes for sports, band uniforms. So if we can help ease that burden on families, that is what we are here to do.”
Organizers estimate they handed out more than 750 backpacks, about 100 more than last year.
One of the recipients is Katelyn Grisham of Keokuk, who brought her son Kayden, who will be in 2nd grade at Hawthorne Elementary this fall. Grisham said it’s amazing that the community comes together for the event, adding how every dollar helps when it comes to back-to-school expenses.
“Especially with a baby on the way,” said Grisham. “It really does help. A lot more than people realize.”
Grisham and Kayden have become regulars at the event.
“We’ve come the last three years he has been in school because it’s fun for the kids,” said Grisham. “They do all the stuff with the Keokuk Fire Department and all that stuff and he learns about some stuff, so he likes it.”
The stuff from the fire department included the display of two vehicles, and the local life-flight team was on hand to display the inside of a helicopter.
There was also free food, games, and face-painting for the kids, and informational booths for organizations such as the Keokuk Police Department, Keokuk Area Hospital and the Great River Area Youth Mentoring program.
“Some kids don’t have access to those services otherwise or the parents don’t know about them,” said Lansing. “Sometimes word is hard to get out and then it’s a way to make sure kids who need access to these different organizations are able to get them along with the backpacks.”
Stacy Seay of Keokuk said she did not know what was going on when she and her children, J.J. and Nyla, drove past the church Friday afternoon.
“It’s awesome seeing everybody out here,” said Seay. “That’s the reason we came out. We drove by and I was like, ‘Oooh, we better go up there.”
Seay says her kids were excited to play the games and see if their friends were there.
Arionna Lawson of Keokuk said she brought her daughter and step-sons at the recommendation of her mom.
“I heard it was the thing to do,” said Lawson. “Let the kids have some fun and get some much needed school supplies.”
Both Lawson and Seay were quick to point out how much this helps, given how expensive school supplies have gotten over the years.
Lansing said that’s what the festival is all about: helping people and showing what can happen when the community comes together.
