Back 2 School Bash helps students gear up for new school year (Photos)

The annual Back 2 School Bash was held on Saturday at West Iredell High School. The event equips students with school supplies, backpacks, socks, shoes, food and fun activities. The supplies are donated by community members, churches and local business partners.

BY KARISSA MILLER

West Iredell High School hosted the annual “Back 2 School Bash” event Saturday to equip students with needed school supplies, backpacks, socks, shoes, food and some fun activities to enjoy before starting the new school year.

For Brentley Medlin, 4, picking out a new Spider-Man backpack was a rite of passage as he gets ready for pre-K. He smiled and strutted down the hallway, proud of his new gear.

“He loves Spiderman. When he saw it, he knew it was the one,” his mom Aldina Medlin said.

After picking out a backpack, the next stop for students was the gym, where there was excitement in the air as each student waited to be fitted for a new pair of athletic shoes.

“The first shoes I got were a perfect fit. They are really nice,” eighth-grader Sanjhana Pattu said of her new Converse high-tops.

Volunteer Brady Dixon, 13, helped sort through the shoes.

“There’s a lot of variety in the shoes. They are separated by size and we have a lot of high-quality shoes. These are some great shoes,” the teen said.

Local community church groups helped supply shoes for the event. Volunteers offered prayers to students and their family members after a student received their shoes.

Volunteer Emily Watts said that it’s not only a joy to volunteer, but it is a way to be “the hands and feet of Jesus,” meaning that volunteers embody Jesus’ teachings of serving others with love and compassion.

Nicole Beam, the lead facilitator for the event, said 1,500 students registered for the event. Around 100 volunteers participate

Mother, daughter and granddaughter Joyce Clodfelter, Leigh Payne and Kellee Payne were among those who helped out. They worked side by side, helping keep the shoes organized and finding the right sizes for students.

“This is such a great thing and it so needed,” Clodfelter said.

Months before the event, Clodfelter organized the socks inside her home. She said that this year each student received three pairs of socks instead of one.

West Iredell High student Trae Johnson woke up at 6 a.m. Saturday to head to football practice and then came straight to the school to volunteer.

“It feels good to know that this will have a positive impact on everyone. I like seeing my friends and giving back,” Johnson said.

Kameryn Spraker, another student volunteer, agreed.

“I like seeing the kids smile and get happy about the small things,” Spraker said.

Beam said that the what makes the back-to-school celebration different from others is that it “addresses the whole child” by supporting each student’s academic, social, emotional and physical needs.

Children are asked to come in person with their families to receive their supplies.

“We want to see their smiling faces. We want them to take ownership,” Beam explained. “They get to choose their own backpack. We want them to choose their own shoes. They get to choose what activities they take part in.

“It’s not only transactional, but we want them to be able to have fun and to enjoy a time together with the community and fellow classmates,” she added.

Beam said that the event brings the entire community together.

“I cannot be more thankful for the community organizations and volunteers because without them none of this would be possible,” Beam said.