Fentress Back To School Bash Offers Supplies

Local families in need can get ready for back to school Saturday at Fentress County’s annual Back to School Bash.

Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Membership Director Seth Vaughn said this year’s event will be carnival-themed, with school supplies being given away alongside bounce houses, games, free food, and more. Vaughn said the event is important because the free supplies provide financial relief to families in need.

“So they look forward to it every year, and so do we,” Vaughn said. “Because really whenever you see the look on the kid’s face during the day of, they’re having such a good time, but also the look of relief on the parent’s face because, once again, it is a financial burden that’s been lifted off of them because their kids have received the school supplies that they need.”

Vaughn said they have enough resources to give school supplies to up to 750 students and any unused supplies will be donated to the school system for future students in need. He said free haircuts will also be provided at the event. The event will begin at 4:00pm at South Fentress Park in Clarkrange.

“We actually have a couple hair stylists lined up and they’ll give away haircuts the day of,” Vaughn said. “They donate their time and just come out and enjoy the day with us, but also cut some kids’ hair because, like school supplies, haircuts can be expensive and be a burden financially on families during that back to school season.”

Vaughn said it is important to support the student community in order to benefit Fentress County in the future. Vaughn said they will have various local businesses and community colleges participating in the event, but they are still looking for additional vendors.

“Please remember that this is a free event for the kids in the community, so we ask that not nothing be sold,” Vaughn said. “But if anybody has any talents that they would like to demonstrate to the kids, maybe have any information about their business or organization that can assist families in need, we would love to have them join us the day of.”

Vaughn said people can support the event by donating school supplies or sponsoring the event.

“This event also costs a lot of money,” Vaughn said. “We expect that this event each year costs about ten to twelve thousand dollars, of course with the increase in prices of everything we’re looking at about fourteen thousand dollars this year in estimated costs for this event, all the way from school supplies to food and activities and stuff like that.”

Vaughn said the chamber started the event a few years ago with the goal of providing aid to families in need during the back to school season.

“You can’t miss it, it’s a big park and you’ll see bounce houses, you’ll see water activities, of course the school supply line, people always line up super early for that,” Vaughn said.