Published: August 13, 2008 01:35 am      

PJSL's annual Back to School Fair set Saturday

Free school supplies, services provided to families

PALESTINE — The Palestine Junior Service League will hold its eighth annual Back to School Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Palestine High School/Middle School cafeteria.

The Back to School Fair offers free school supplies, vision screening, immunizations, free haircuts, fingerprinting and activities for children to area families with proven need of assistance. School-aged children who attend the fair will receive a free backpack.

“Dogwood 4-H will be there signing up participants and face painting,” PJSL fair co-chair Veronica Gilbert said in a recent interview. “And hair stylists from Jamie’s Therapeutic Touch — Sheri Fitzgerald, Jamie Lipsey, Sondra Walker and Karen Buth — will give free haircuts to the first 100 students that arrive from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday.”

The back to school fair is designed to help families who are eligible for AFDC food stamps, or the free or reduced lunch program.

“All children, even those who are less fortunate, need to start school on an even keel,” Gilbert said. “And with the economy the way it is, some parents struggle to even find $100 to send their kid back to school.

“We feel like the fair gives kids a better opportunity to build their future,” she added. “And the kids will see that somebody cares.”

Parents should bring proof of residency, such as a utility bill or mail postmarked during June or July, 2008; parent’s or legal guardian’s photo ID; and each child’s Social Security card or birth certificate and a case number for TANF, AFDC or food stamps.

In addition, parents wishing to have their children immunized should bring their immunization records.

Traditionally, the fair provides school supplies for over 1,000 at-risk children in Cayuga, Elkhart, Frankston, Grapeland, Neches, Palestine, Slocum and Westwood school districts.

Almost $10,000 in school supplies and backpacks will be distributed at this year’s event. Those funds were raised by the PJSL through their annual Gala fund-raiser event.

PJSL member Laurie Thorn serves as co-chair of the Back to School Fair. For more information, call Gilbert at 903-724-0074.

————

Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com