Backpacks line the gym floor of Seymour Middle School Saturday afternoon as kids gear up to go back to school with help from Jackson County United Way’s Rock’n Ready program.
Erika Malone | The Tribune
From left, Yoselin Marisol Nicholas Francisco, 10, and Marleni Pedro Baltazar, 8, pick up extra school supplies at Laura Ruddick’s table during the Rock’n Ready distribution event at Seymour Middle School Saturday afternoon.
Erika Malone | The Tribune
Five-year old Emily Smith was all smiles as a light blue galaxy backpack filled with school supplies was handed to her at Jackson County United Way’s Rock’n Ready school supply distribution event Saturday at Seymour Middle School.
Smith said she loves her backpacks and is ready to start kindergarten in a couple weeks.
Her backpack was just one of a 1,000 that had been stuffed with various school supplies the night before by volunteers and lined up on the floor in the Seymour Middle School gymnasium.
Volunteers went to work replenishing backpacks through the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event as more than 830 registered families and 200 walk-ins filled the building.
Emily Engelking, engagement director for Jackson County United Way and coordinator of the Rock’n Ready program, said more than 60 volunteers came together to make this event possible.
“It really takes a village,” she said.
While the number of registered families is a tad low compared to last year, Engelking said it was still an incredible turnout.
“This is our second year distributing at Seymour Middle School as well as pre-stuffing the backpacks the night before,” she said. “We do our best to try and meet the kids preferences if they want a certain color or style. We also try to make it an experience for the parents so, it feels like they are shopping with their child.”
Backpacks were given to four grade categories: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grades, sixth through eighth and ninth through 12th.
During the distribution in the gymnasium, there was a table set up for those who spoke Spanish and a table for English.
Each backpack had a color-coded label for the grade groups and once a family was checked in they received a ticket. Families then went to a table and exchanged the ticket for a backpack of their choosing.
“The best part is seeing the kids excited to go back to school,” Engelking said. “We were able to help a mother, who knew her child loved Lilo and Stitch, when we found a backpack with those characters on it we were so excited to pack it for the little girl.”
Engelking said they are ready to kick-off their other distribution events in all school districts.
Brownstown’s Rock’n Ready distribution is set for noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at Brownstown Elementary School. Crothersville’s is from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Crothersville Elementary School and Medora from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. also on Thursday at Medora Christian Church.
“We like to tailor to the needs of different schools and their communities as well,” she said. “Medora in the past has more of a shopping experience where families will also receive toiletries, haircuts and other free items.”
After kids received their backpacks, families could go to the resource area where local agencies were distributing information and some freebies and answering questions. There also were games set up at some of the tables for kids to play.
Charity Williams, 14, said while she is not too thrilled to wake up early again for school she was grateful for the free school supplies.
At SMS participating organizations handing out resources were Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry, Boys and Girls Club of Seymour, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Indiana, Building Blocks CareSource, Centerstone Mental Health and Addiction Services, Firefly Children and Family Alliance, Garcia Family Dental, Girls Scouts, Healthy Jackson County, Human Services Inc. Head Start, Indiana Health Center, READ Jackson County, Su Casa Indiana, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Pantry and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
A mobile vaccination clinic also was set up through the Indiana Department of Health so families had a one-stop shop to get ready for school.
“We are so lucky to have such amazing partners, sponsors and volunteers,” Engelking said. “Our Rockstar sponsors this year were German American Bank and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 108.”
This is Engelking’s fourth year organizing the program and she said she learns something new every year.
“Our goal is to expand the Rock’n Ready services in Medora and Brownstown,” she said. “Even though it can get chaotic at times it’s such a fun day seeing our community work together and give each other a helping hand.”