Nearly 500 Wimberley ISD students will start the new school year with the supplies needed thanks to the Back to School Fiesta, which is put together by local nonprofit Barnabas connection.
For Kate Sowell, the executive director of Barnabas Connection, the turnout for not only the Back to School Fiesta but also for the Back to School Celebration that followed has been amazing.
“It’s been so incredible,” Sowell said. “We had about 500 kids come over to the Back to School Fiesta for supply pick up with 30 volunteers helping out, which is incredible. Over at the Back to School Celebration there are 35 booths with 300 people coming out… We are always continually impressed by the amount of people that show up to give support and help.”
What separates Back to School Fiesta from other events that involve donating backpacks to students in need is that the students themselves have the ability to choose their own backpack.
“It’s really unique to see the kids come in here,” Sowell said. “It’s set up like a store so getting to see their smiles and reactions definitely gives them that feeling of going to a store and picking out a bag. It’s not just giving them a bag but instead picking out a bag that fits their unique personality. Seeing the giant smiles going on in the building as the kids pick out their backpack as they prepare for school makes you feel really good.”
Another big part of the event was that many of the donors who donated the supplies were also there helping Barnabas Connection during the event.
“We had several donors that came to the event and volunteered,” Sowell. “It was really neat and those donors said it was really cool to be a part of the process. For them, it helps seeing where their money is going and the kids they are helping, so I encourage anybody that wants to donate to also come out and do that. It’s one thing to give, which we love, but seeing the volunteering is such a unique experience unlike anything else.”
For the second straight year, Barnabas Connection has also put together a Back to School Celebration following the Fiesta, as not only kids are able to play games but allow families access to important nonprofit organizations here in the Wimberley Valley.
“It’s a huge part of why we do this,” Sowell said. “Not only do we want people to have a good time and celebrate going back to school but also provide resources to families that connect them to the different nonprofits and resources in the community. We have several different resources so people can go around, celebrate, get food, play games but also stop at those resource booths. It’s a whole process of what it is that these families need to be ready for going back to school.”
But overall, Sowell wants to connect the Wimberley Valley community.
“It also just brings all parts of the community together from all types of life,” Sowell said. “We want to celebrate that we are all Wimberley and these are all Wimberley students. We are excited to go back to school and have a good year.”
If you want to get involved with the Barnabas Connection, visit their website at www.barnabasconnects. org.
