July 21, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Families in DeKalb County can get a helping hand with their back-to-school needs thanks to the annual Back to School Bash hosted again this year by the Smithville First Baptist Church (FBC).
The event will be held rain or shine Tuesday, August 1 starting at 6 p.m. at the church’s Life Enrichment Center downtown.
Pastor Chad Ramsey said other churches, businesses, etc. will be joining in the effort to provide free school supplies to families as well as food and fellowship. Tables or booths will be set up inside the Life Enrichment Center gym and to help prevent duplication of services, they will each offer different types of supplies from pencils, paper, back packs, etc. Participants will line up at the door and enter after being handed information describing what they will find at each table. Families will walk through and get what they need from each booth. Most of the activity will be held inside.
“We are very excited about the Back to School Bash,” said Ramsey. “This is an event that has been going on for many years in Smithville. It was once held on the town square. After COVID, we brought it back here at the Smithville FBC and we now host this event in our Life Enrichment Center. We are excited to offer it. Last year we had people lined up and over one thousand people came through. We had enough supplies for every single one of them and we will have ample supplies again this year. Its not being done just by us here at the church. Many businesses in the community have contacted us and they will have booths at this event. There will be from 14-16 booths and each will have different types of school supplies. We will have supplies for kids from the elementary school age, intermediate, middle school, and the high school. We will have basic things kids will need for school without families having to go purchase those at the store. This will save them hundreds of dollars. A special thanks goes to companies, churches, businesses, and others who are participating in this,” added Pastor Ramsey.