On Saturday morning, the seventeenth annual Back to School Fiesta at the Barnabas Connection kicked off in Wimberley. More than 458 backpacks filled with school supplies awaited students who had pre-registered for the event. In addition to the school supplies, 16 community organizations provided services and resources to the students and their families.
Barnabas Connection Executive Director Kate Sowell said this year’s Back to School Fiesta was “an incredible gift to the community.”
Thirty-five students received vaccinations from the Wimberley Independent School District’s new District Nurse, Annie Wood, who partnered with Aurora Concepts for the injections. Local dentist Davi Williams of Wimberley Valley Dental, gave students dental checks and fluoride treatments. The Wimberley Lions Club completed 85 vision screenings and The Hill Country Women’s Health Collective scheduled medical appointments. The Fig Tree Outreach Program was able to sign up families for their weekend food program.
This year students could choose a Texan Spirit t-shirt provided by Texaholic & Wildflower and Wimberley Ace Hardware & Gift.
The work of more than 50 volunteers made the event possible. The Wimberley Valley Rangers provided a warm welcome at the door and served as the event’s safety team.
Sowell extended a special thanks to volunteers Chris Zeigler, Dana Swanson, Kristine Parkerson and Daphne Smith for their extensive preparation in the months leading up to the event. Community organizations included Amigos De Jesus, Communicare, Fig Tree Outreach Program, Rotary Club of Wimberley, Lions Club of Wimberley, Wimberley Youth Soccer Association, Be Smart, Wimberley Good Neighbor, Wimberley Church of Christ, Hays County Local Health Department, Community Action-Breast Cancer Screenings, Hill Country Women’s Health Collective, WISD District Nurse, Ann Wood, and Aurora Concepts, Wimberley Valley Rangers, and Davi Williams of Wimberley Valley Dental, Texaholic & Wildflower and Wimberley Ace Hardware & Gift.
For more information about the Barnabas Connection, visit their website at barnabasconnects. org or call their helpline at 512 842-9674.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LIONS CLUB OFFERED STUDENTS VISION SERVICES AT THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT.
PHOTO BY TERESA KENDRICK.
