Back to School Bash helps 450 students

  • Celeste Lance gets ready to cut Addyson’s hair as part of the Back to School Bash at Fannin County High School Saturday. Sponsors estimated 450 students took advantage of the annual event which featured the free haircuts.
    Celeste Lance gets ready to cut Addyson’s hair as part of the Back to School Bash at Fannin County High School Saturday. Sponsors estimated 450 students took advantage of the annual event which featured the free haircuts.
  • Kari Mae is all smiles as she gets her face painted at the Back to School Bash this past Saturday. The event not only provided needed school supplies, it also offered food and fun for participants.
    Kari Mae is all smiles as she gets her face painted at the Back to School Bash this past Saturday. The event not only provided needed school supplies, it also offered food and fun for participants.
  • Deb Cantrell of the University of North Georgia Blue Ridge campus helps a young man take a turn on the school’s prize wheel at Saturday’s bash.
    Deb Cantrell of the University of North Georgia Blue Ridge campus helps a young man take a turn on the school’s prize wheel at Saturday’s bash.
  • The law office of Doss & Associates in Blue Ridge was one of the vendors who donated and passed out school supplies. Lynn Doss, right, has long been involved in the band program in the schools.
    The law office of Doss & Associates in Blue Ridge was one of the vendors who donated and passed out school supplies. Lynn Doss, right, has long been involved in the band program in the schools.
  • A group of volunteers from Snack in a Backpack was on hand at the Back to School Bash to pass out goodies to the youngsters on hand getting ready for the start of school.
    A group of volunteers from Snack in a Backpack was on hand at the Back to School Bash to pass out goodies to the youngsters on hand getting ready for the start of school.
  • Members of the Blue Ridge Church of Christ stepped up and manned the concession stand at the Back to School Bash. Helping a young man make his choices are, from left, Christian Bauguss, Kathryn Weaver, Tracie Griffith and April McFarland. The volunteers served 400 hotdogs Saturday.
    Members of the Blue Ridge Church of Christ stepped up and manned the concession stand at the Back to School Bash. Helping a young man make his choices are, from left, Christian Bauguss, Kathryn Weaver, Tracie Griffith and April McFarland. The volunteers served 400 hotdogs Saturday.

    The Back to School Bash this past Saturday probably attracted more participants than anyone could have imagined.

    Enthusiasm started ahead of schedule as parents and their youngsters were lining up at 8:15, before the scheduled 9 a.m. start in the Fannin County High School gymnasium.

    Sheena Rymer, one of the event’s organizers, said original preparations were made for 300 kids based on last year’s participation. By the time the day’s events ended, she estimated 450 students took advantage of the Bash.

    The statistics collected from the Bash showed:

    •Georgia Mountains Health completed 141 dental screenings, and 225 health screenings that included BMIs, vision and hearing checks;

    •Georgia Mountains Health gave out 300 backpacks and left another 230 for the school system to distribute as needed;

    •Over 400 hotdogs were served;

    •The health department immunized 18 students;

    •The Fannin County Public Library passed out 200 free books;

    •Well over 300 free haircuts were given; and,

    •Many vendors ran out of supplies and reported “running to the store” to buy more.

    Rymer said a special thanks to all the volunteers and vendors who took part. “The community showed up to help our students. We can’t say a big enough thank you to everyone,” Rymer said.