2011 Back To School Bash-Event Flyer
FREE!
12,000 Back Packs • 750 Immunizations • 400 Dental Screenings 1,000 Free Haircuts • 500 Health Screenings • School Supplies • Red Carpet Teachers Lounge
Registration is required for immunizations and Red Carpet Teachers Lounge.
Register today at www. hopenowinternational.org
All Services, back packs and school supplies are offered on a first come first served basis.
20,000 expected at back to school bash
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - An estimated 20,000 people are expected to attend the Fox 35 Healthy Heroes Back to School Bash today. In addition to school supply giveaways, children can receive hair cuts, immunizations, and free vision screenings.
The event runs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Amway Arena.
Fox 35 anchors Mike Dunston and Talitha Vickers will co-emcee the opening ceremony.
Demand extended hours for free school supplies, immunizations, haircuts
Event at Amway Arena remained open until 5
By Eloísa Ruano González Sentinel Staff Writer
People began to gather outside the Amway Arena about 6 a.m.
By 8, thousands were in a line stretching blocks long.
By 9, the doors opened to about 10,000 people.
They weren’t there for a Magic game or a concert.
They were there out of desperation, hoping to receive free backpacks, free immunizations, free school supplies and
other items to help make the upcoming school year a bit more affordable in a tanking economy.
“Financially, it’s so hard right now,” said parent Holly Ebert of Longwood, 29. “And they want so many supplies for school.”
Ebert was among 30,000 people — twice the number expected — who flooded the Amway Arena on Saturday for the
free immunizations, physicals and school supplies. Children also received haircuts and health exams and other services
and enjoyed entertainment.
Parents like Ebert who traditionally haven’t asked for assistance reached out to health providers and community organizations
at the fifth annual Healthy Heroes Back to School Bash, organizers said. They thronged the arena’s concourse
after standing in line for hours and snagged anything they could: Backpacks. Crayons. No. 2 pencils. Ebert, a stay-athome
mom, said her husband’s income isn’t enough to pay the bills and prepare her daughter, Piper, for kindergarten.
She said teachers are asking for too many supplies, including several boxes of name-brand and crayons and markers
to share with the class. To make ends meet, Ebert, who has a third child on the way, said she’s received help from food
pantries at local churches. She tried to apply for food stamps, but she was turned away because her husbandmade slightly more money than the state allows. Her story isn’t uncommon. Organizers expected between 10,000 and 15,000 people Saturday, about the same as last year. Instead, 30,000 showed up.
Shari Bobinski, an Orange schools spokeswoman, said many people who once were well-off are now seeking help. “They’re reaching out for additional
services like they never had before,” Bobinski said. The school district estimates it will have about 75,000 children
on free or reduced-price lunches in the coming school year -- up by more than 10,000 from the last school year. Similar
events were held around Orlando on Saturday, but on a smaller scale. About 2,500 children received supplies at Jones
High School. The Healthy Start Coalition also signed up more than 50 children for the state’s KidCare health-insurance
program. The event was organized by state Sen. Gary Siplin and his staff. Other events planned in the area include
Orange County Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell’s back-to-school rally this SaturdayAug. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to noon
at the Hal P. Marston Center in on W.D. Judge Drivein Orlando.
Thousands Brave Heat, Long Lines For Free Backpacks
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Thousands of people waited in long lines at Amway Arena to get free back to school essentials for
their kids Saturday.
Organizers of the “Back To School Bash” say around 30,000 people showed up to receive free backpacks, school supplies
and vision screenings.
The thousands who lined up in the heat was another sign that more families are struggling financially right here in
Central Florida.
The event started at 10 a.m., and by 11 a.m. the massive line was not even through the door yet.
Almost everyone we ran into at the event was just trying to catch a break.
“Just like everyone else, yes we are,” said Sonya Toris, a mother. “And anything that will help us is a great thing.” The
event welcomed children of all ages, according to a release.
Immunizations and physicals were also provided free of charge. At last year’s event, there were not enough backpacks to go around and several children were turned away. Early in the afternoon this year, however, there were still plenty of backpacks left, according to organizers. The event was scheduled
to end at 4 p.m.
Kids Load Up On Supplies At Back To School Bash
Fifth-Annual Event Held Outside Amway Arena In Downtown Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. -- As the school year begins, many parents are out of work, and getting school supplies can be challenging.
The unemployment rate in Central Florida is at 10.8 percent -- the highest it has been since November 1975, according
to Workforce Florida.
Saturday at Amway Arena, the community came together to provide school supplies, physicals, haircuts and more to
thousands of Central Florida students.
Janie Holmes introduced her daughter, 5-year-old Madeline, who will be starting kindergarten this year.
On the first day of school, Madeline will be prepared. She and thousands of other children in Central Florida are getting
school supplies for free.
“We’ve got 10,000 backpacks,” said a Back to School Bash organizer. “We have crayons. We’ve got eyeglass cases. We’ve
got eyeglass cleaners. We’ve got folders. We’ve got notebooks. We’ve got pencils. We’ve got colored pencils. We’ve got
just about everything.”
The students loaded up on supplies with the help of local businesses and nonprofits at the Fifth-Annual Back to School
Bash at Amway Arena. Parents saved hundreds of dollars.
“When you have to consider you have to buy clothes and all this other stuff, that is a shortcut with the supplies,” said
parent Tim Greene. “This is something you don’t have to pay for when you get it for free. This is a good thing. This is a
real good thing.”
“It makes me feel good, like I’ve done my part even though it’s been hard, because I know my kids will have everything
they need when school starts,” Holmes said.
