CAMBRIDGE - According to the African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, when it comes to helping youngsters prepare for the new school year, Cambridge and Dorchester County are doing their part.
Individuals and organizations are increasingly stepping up to ensure youngsters begin the school year with new supplies and freshly groomed hair, without needing to worry about a struggling budget.
On Aug. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. New Beginnings Youth & Family Services, 522 Greenwood Avenue, Cambridge, will hold a Back-to- School Giveaway in memory of its founder and School Board member Dr. Theresa Stafford.
“A day to give back in honor of Dr. Stafford,” according to New Beginnings Facebook page.
Among the items for area youngsters are free backpacks, coats, school supplies, and food.
"If you are not a registered voter you will be able to register on that day. Remember our forefathers died that we may have the right to vote,” according to the New Beginnings Facebook page.
Sponsored by Voices for Change and Randolph Horton, the event also features the Coach Butch McAdams Memorial Award and CSD Basketball team.
On Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. a Back-to-School Giveaway will be held at Cornish Park, 701 Douglas Drive, Cambridge.
Sponsored by Temple of God H.O.D. and Legacy Creative Arts and Athletics, the first come, first serve event will offer pencils, paper, pens, crayons, markers, colored pencils, notebooks, folders, glue, erasers, backpacks, dry erase markers, highlighters, and more.
For information, contact Co-Pastor Toi at 443-523-9117 or Melissa at 443-988-3757.
On Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions will hold a Back to School Health & Readiness Community Event at the Intergenerational Center, 108 Chesapeake St., Cambridge, providing school supplies and other essentials including hair cuts and styling to students and their families.
According to Ashyrra C. Dotson, Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions President and CEO, the event will feature the following vendors: The Dorchester County Health Department, offering vaccinations for students and other resources, Dorchester County 4-H, Dorchester County Public Library, providing activities for students, Johns Hopkins Priority Partners, Mid-Shore Meals til Monday, who have donated supplies for the event, SEEDCO – MD Health Connections, Shore-UP Early Head Start and Head Start Programs, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the Mid Shore Local Health Improvement Coalition.
Funding support and donation sources include Dorchester Elks Lodge, $5000; American Legion Dorchester Post 91, WaWa Foundation, and Choptank Electric Trust, $1,000 each; Lion Heart Medicare and Mortgage and the Waddell Foundation-Phil and Marlene Feldman, $250 each; Cambridge Lions Club, $200; Walmart, $75.00 gift card.
A host of community organizations also provided snacks, drinks, hair products, shoes, and other supplies for the event, Dotson said. Among those are Beauty Outlet, Intergenerational Center (site usage), McDonalds (coupons), Pepsi (drinks), The Scene Community Center (snacks and drinks), Visions Health Care (drinks), WaWa (gift basket), YMCA (school supplies), Meals til Monday (school supplies), and Waugh Chapel (school supplies).
Other community members have also donated goods and volunteered services, including hair cutters and stylists, individuals helping prepare lunch for the families, bus drivers providing transportation to and from the event, plus many working to get families registered, provide school supplies, packing the back packs, helping set up the event, and sharing information on their websites and Facebook pages.
“We are truly appreciative of all the efforts that go into executing this event every year,” Dotson said. “We are hoping to exceed last year’s number of 1,126 students served and meeting our goal of 1,500 students this year."
For information, call Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions at 410-221-0795.
Most Popular
Comments / 0