Oakland Hosts Back-To-School Celebration
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OAKLAND – Families are invited to celebrate the start of a new school year at Oakland’s Back-to-School Kick-Off on from 10 a.m. until noon, Saturday, July 25, at the Riley Swearengen Walking Track at 61 Walnut Street in Oakland. Presented by the Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce, the event is free and open to everyone.
Children and families can enjoy free school supplies, sno-cones, hot dogs, chips, drinks, watermelon, water games, and other surprises. The Oakland Area Lions Club is collecting school supplies in advance of the celebration, with donation drop-off locations at the Oakland Public Library, Oakland Town Hall, and Farmacy Marketplace.
The event will also bring together a number of local organizations to share information about programs and opportunities available to area families. Participating groups include Girl Scouts, Mississippi State University Extension/4-H Clubs, Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Library, Vets for Youth, Oakland Area Lions Club, Oakland Beautification Committee, and Oakland Volunteer Fire Department. Information from Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery will also be available, and Jenkins Sno-Cones will be on hand.
A special highlight for children will be a visit from the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters will bring the town’s small fire engine and firefighting gear for children to see and learn about. Students will have an opportunity to explore fire-safety equipment, learn about fire extinguishers and portable water tanks, and discover some of the “bells and whistles” of a fire truck. Children can even dress like a firefighter and pose for a free photo with the fire engine using a parent or guardian’s camera or phone. The department will also provide brief home fire-safety tips and help fill the tubs for the day’s water activities.
“This event is about more than getting ready for school. We want to bring families together for a fun morning while connecting them with the organizations, volunteers, and resources that serve our community,” Sue Donohue Smith, Chamber Executive Director, said. “We hope every family will come out, enjoy the activities, meet their neighbors, and help us send our children back to school with a great start.”
The event is made possible through the generosity and participation of community organizations and local sponsors. TAB Building and Design is sponsoring the sno-cone truck; Farmacy Marketplace is donating hot dogs and buns; Cypress Creek Farming Co. is donating watermelons; Riley Swearengen is providing chips; and Sue Can Do Catering is providing drinks and cooking the hot dogs.
The Oakland Area Lions Club is collecting and distributing the school supplies, while the Oakland Beautification Committee will serve hot dogs, chips, drinks, and watermelon.
