Back to School Bash

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

DEXTER STATESMAN/Josh Ayers

HOPE International sponsored a Back to School Bash at the Bearcat Event Center Wednesday. Several local vendors were on hand to provide school supplies, backpacks, haircuts and much more. Bounce houses were available for play as well as a free lunch provided by the First Baptist Church in Dexter. The Stoddard County Sheriff's Department was on hand to fingerprint children for child ID kits. The Dexter Police Department was on hand with police badge stickers, pencils, colored pencils and coloring books.

Representatives from several area churches were on hand to hand out backpacks full of school supplies. The backpacks were prepacked with supplies, according to grade requirements. Students would present a card stating what grade and what school they were in. They would then be handed a backpack with the appropriate supplies inside.
Students wait to receive a backpack of school supplies.
The Risen Church provided a circus themed booth for students.
Keith Haynes with the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department fingerprints Jaycie March for a child ID kit.
Lori O'Dell with the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department puts some hand sanitizer in the hands of Lyla March to allow her to clean her fingers after fingerprinting.
Hair stylists from local salons were on hand to provide free haircuts. Shown is Madison Dunlap with Roots Salon, cutting the hair of Puxico seventh grade student Dakota Dellinger.
Dexter second grade student Mckenna Rose has her face painted by Grace Hanner.
Kids bounce and play in one of the bounce houses.