Hundreds come to Rise Initiative’s second annual back-to-school bash

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

The Rise Initiative hosted a Back-to-School Bash Saturday at Lange Middle School on Smiley Lane. The event drew nearly a thousand people and offered free physicals, backpacks, shoes and haircuts.

Families from across Columbia attended to prepare for the upcoming school year. Throughout the day, the line extended out the door, and with demand so high, the groups began running out of shoes about an hour before closing.

Lonnie Lockhart Bey, co-owner of the Rise Initiative, which part on the event, said he wanted to support the community as Columbia Public Schools and other schools prepare to start.

"Nobody has it all together," Lockhart Bey said. "That's why we're here to help each other,"

This is the second year that the organization has hosted the bash.

"We want Columbia to know it takes a village to raise our kids," co-owner Julian Jackman said. "You're not alone in this, and we understand that. We want to be here to help you out."

Organizers distributed around 900 backpacks and around 700 backpacks. The bash received support from several organizations, including Veterans United, Beacon of Hope Foundation, and Broadway Christian Church, among others.

Monday, Columbia Public Schools reported a decline in test scores for fifth-grade English, eighth-grade science, and English I scores on the 2024 Missouri Assessment Program. Jackman stressed the need for more focus on academic readiness, especially in areas where scores are low.

"We need to really focus on getting these kids academically ready for the future," Jackman said. "So focus more on those areas that we see them low in, focus on getting really good teachers in and we do we have some awesome teachers, but we need the teachers to understand it's just not one size fits all."

"What I hope for these children for this upcoming school year is to get some of these stats here in Columbia, reading, math," Lockhart Bey said. "These things are necessary to survive in any civilized society."

Last month, ABC 17 reported that Columbia Public Schools will be installing a new weapons detection system. Both Jackman and Lockhart Bey support the district's decision.

"Safety and security is number one priority. And if they feel at this time that metal detectors are necessary, then who am I?" Lockhart said.

"We have some schools that we know there's been issues with having firearms or even, you know, illegal weapons like knives and stuff like that. So I think actually having metal detectors, there's no problem with that. I think they should have them. They should make every child in their school feel safe," Jackman added.

The Rise Initiative is planning on doing a coat drive in October.