LIHU‘E — Melissa McFerrin Warrack, of Kukui Grove Center, announced the annual Back to School Bash will take place on July 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
She made the announcement during the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Before Hours event at Kumu’s Cupboard, an educator’s resource center, at Kukui Marketplace on June 29.
“There will be 2,700 free backpacks of school supplies being distributed for free to students from kindergarten to grade 12,” McFerrin Warrack said.
However, to be eligible for the free backpacks, students need to be preregistered.
Back to School Bash is an in-person giveaway with preregistration for students in elementary (kindergarten through grade 5), and middle and high school (grades six through 12) starting on July 6 at 9 a.m. through the Kukui Grove Center website at www.kukuigrovecenter.com, and clicking the Events tab to the Back to School link.
Preregistration is necessary to ensure a student receives a free backpack of supplies. Previous Back to School bashes have been sold out.
Students who are not preregistered are invited to enjoy the “Passport to Fun” activities set up by event sponsors and vendors throughout the day at Back to School Bash presented by Kukui Grove Center, state Department of Education Kaua‘i Complex, and Hawai‘i Food Service Alliance.
There is a possibility of a limited number of backpacks available for those who did not register, when unclaimed bags will be distributed at the event’s close at 2 p.m. to students present on a first-come-first-serve basis.
The Back to School Bash is made possible through the sponsorships of community organizations led by the Hawai‘i Food Service Alliance. Other sponsors include Layton Construction, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Kaua‘i’s credit unions, Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Wilcox Health, Kamehameha Schools, the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors, S&A Industries, Target stores and others.
For sponsorship opportunities, email info@kukuigrovecenter.com.
According to the Hawai‘i Department of Education school calendar for the 2023-24 school year, the first day of class is on Aug. 7.
“This is where the community comes together,” McFerrin Warrack said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
