Union County Back to School Bash a rousing success to benefit students

Just a small part of the crowd attending the Communitywide Back to School Bash, held at the bus ramp at UCHS on July 13, 2024.

Staff from Lake Butler Hospital were on hand to help give out the school supplies. Pictured are: Nichole Horne (behind the pillar), Tammy Miller, Ashley Hodges and Candice Johnson.

Shadd and Liberty Trucking had a pile of notebooks ready for the young people. Pictured are: Mendy Whitaker and First Christian Church Pastor Shane Collins.

The happy people from Culture House Church. Pictured are Ashley Lynch, Robby Jarvis, Terry Jarvis and Dolly Gonzalez.

Scoutmaster Mark Ables (Pack 140 and Troop 140) stands by to assist while Helen Green and Cathryn Reagan, with the Lake Butler Womans Ckub and Fl/GA SAFE gave the young people stuffed friends to brighten their day.

Debra Mott and Dana Britt, from the ACORN Clinic, handed out personal grooming supplies to students.

Carly Loznicka and Rusty Steel, from West Fraser, handed out supplies to young people and their parents

Sarah Donnini with her children Tilly (left) and Nora (right) taking a break after dealing with the seemingly endless line.

BY TRACY LEE TATE

Special to the Times

The second annual Community-Wide Back to School Bash, held July 13, 2024, was a big success. The event brought together community members and groups with young people in need of school supplies to help them succeed in the new school year.

When the event began, the day had not yet heated up. It was held on the bus ramp at Union County High School to allow room for the tables and people. Table upon table of notebooks, pencils, pens, composition books, and other necessities were laid out for the students to select and pick out. Supplies available were on the lists provided by each of Union County’s three schools.

Sponsors and (many) of the participants at the event were: Andrews Site Prep, Pritchett Trucking, Nextran Truck Centers, LifeSouth, Lake Butler Hospital, West Fraser, Lake Butler Rotary, Lake Butler Womans Club, Shadd Trucking, Liberty Trucking, Woodmen Life, Spires IGA, North Florida Equipment Rentals, ACORN Clinic, Culture House Church, Victory Christian, Union Beverage, Body of Christ Assembly, 20 Strong, Laredos, Union County Housing Authority, Union Power, White Crane Karate & Kubudo, Nutrition Hideaway, Freestate Realty, PepsiCo, CTC Delicious BBQ, Lake Butler VFW and Union County Education Foundation.

The organizers also thank all the people who came out and volunteered their time to help handle and distribute school supplies.

School supplies that were not given out at the event have already been delivered to the three county schools to be given to children who were unable to attend.