Back to School Health Fair helps families prepare for first day of class
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Cars lined the streets around Derby Ridge Elementary on Saturday as hundreds of Boone County families went booth to booth getting haircuts, information from local vendors and school supplies.
Voluntary Action Center hosted their 15th annual Back to School Health Fair. The fair is for any students going into kindergarten through 12th grade to receive school supplies, health screenings and information on after-school activities.
VAC Executive Director Ed Stansberry said 28 vendors participated in the fair. The vendors ranged from eye doctors to dentists to pediatricians.
"The health of our community as we all know is critical to success for these kids as they grow and learn," Stansberry said.
Stansberry said the goal was to provide for families who may not be able to afford these things on their own. Everything at the fair was completely free.
"There's an agency here, Daydreams, that provide scholarships for those kids to do something like little league baseball," Stansberry said. "Without those opportunities, these kids wouldn't be able to participate in those kinds of activities."
Heather Stewart, VAC director of development, told ABC 17 in an email that an estimated 600 students attended the fair.
"This event would not be possible without volunteers who help on the day of the event and the amazing donors who purchased the backpacks that will be distributed," Stewart said in a press release. "Each backpack costs $11 to ensure each student has the necessary supplies to start school off on a positive note."
Kellie Maggard was homeschooled, so she said preparing her son Keeno to start first grade was uncharted territory for her. As Keeno hugged her waist, Maggard expressed her appreciation for the fair providing them with all the things she didn't know she needed.
"They have all this information and all these educational things I can do with my son and help us from healthcare to the COVID shot--everything," Maggard said.
Maggard said she hopes to sign Keeno up for karate or basketball, and Keeno said he can't wait to start school with his friends.
