Annual Back to School Resource Fair: Preparing students for success

EASTON — On Tuesday evening, over a thousand people gathered at Idlewild Park for the annual Back to School Resource Fair hosted by For All Seasons.

For All Seasons partnered with the Talbot County Department of Social Services to provide families with hundreds of backpacks pre-stuffed with supplies for students. This event not only contributes to the care of students of all ages, but it creates community for residents throughout Easton.

Beth Anne Dorman, president and chief executive officer at For All Seasons, said the resource fair has become one of the largest community events in Easton, bringing together over 25 different organizations and over 1,700 people.

“We are really taking care of all of the kids in the ways that set them up for success,” Dorman said. “For school, mental health isn’t just about our mental health and talk therapy, but it’s also about making sure that children have what they need to be able to show up at the school year authentically and with some safety.”

In addition to the school supplies provided by For All Seasons, dozens of organizations set up tables and provided rulers, pens, dental care kits, notebooks and over a hundred children’s books.

Marilou Russ, assistant director for Appleseed Books, said the organization provides free children’s books to families across the Eastern Shore by collecting donated books.

“We come to programs and events throughout the counties on the mid shore, which would include Caroline, Talbot and now even Dorchester County, and then we give the children out the free books so that they have books,” Russ said. “Our belief is that they have their own collection of books that they can call their own.”

Included in the event, families had the opportunity to enjoy games, free Rita’s Italian Ice, and arts and craft activities.

Mayra Casillas, an event attendee, said she just moved to the area and learned of the fair on Facebook. For Casillas, it seemed a great opportunity to engage with her new community and for her children to have fun.

“It’s also great to have backpacks and a bunch of other school supplies,” Casillas said. “It helps families that don’t have the income to buy for their kids.”

Dorman said the event has grown significantly since its origin six years ago. It has reached the point where For All Seasons will be expanding the venue for next year since it has become too crowded for Idlewild Park. Dorman said she is proud of this event and the amount of people it assists.

“There are times where we have an opportunity to dig in a little bit deeper as a community,” Dorman said. “This is an example of when we think outside of the box, and we really think about the whole person when we’re thinking about mental health. It gives us an opportunity to make a difference in a way that maybe is not going to happen in the four walls of an office, but this is real community outreach and community connection and partnership.”