School Readiness Fair will help Stone County kids in need

Summer is flying by, and it’s time for the Stone County School Readiness Fair, scheduled for Friday, August 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Testament Christian Church, 21016 Main St. in Reeds Spring. 

The Fair is a project of Unite Table Rock Lake, with assistance from other valuable community organizations, donors and volunteers. Volunteers can sign up to serve using the SignUp Genius link on the Unite Table Rock Lake Facebook page. Volunteering is a special experience, and families who have been served in the past and are now in a better situation particularly enjoy being able to help bless others through volunteering. Volunteer feedback highlights how impactful it is to witness the hope the event helps bring to families in need, and families served express their own appreciation of how much the help means to them during a tough season. 

Volunteers are also needed in advance, to help on Monday, August 4, with preparing food boxes; and during Tax-Free Weekend, volunteers can help “Stuff the Bus” at Branson West Walmart. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 1, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, volunteers will hand out lists to customers wishing to purchase items to donate, and then help collect the items and pack them on the bus. This is a great opportunity for families, including children, to volunteer together! (Due to privacy regulations, children under 18 may not volunteer at the August 8 event.) 

The School Readiness Fair is expected to serve over 500 children this year. Sign-up deadline is July 25; visit www.sscfpd.org. To be eligible, families must reside in Stone County and qualify for free or reduced lunch. The Fair is about much more than just school supplies, though. At least 60 local business and organizations have signed up to provide specific items or services as well as resource information. 

The day includes lunch, plus fun activities for students in attendance. Besides hope and love, it provides many experiences that help our students be ready to do their best in school and help them with a jump start to success: Children attend with a parent or guardian and experience shopping for back to school, as they choose a backpack and visit each booth to get their needed supplies. They then get clothing, new shoes, hygiene products, underwear, brushes, combs and socks, as well as services like haircuts, eye exams and more. They even get school “swag” t-shirts, and are so proud and excited to be able to show school spirit! 

After school begins, time will seem to fly by, so start planning now for the Stone County Christmas Assistance event, scheduled for December 7 and 8. Services include helping parents shop for toys and gifts, including bicycles, getting gifts wrapped or wrap to do it themselves, and selecting necessities like clothing, pajamas and hygiene items. Along with volunteers needed for the event itself, there will be volunteer opportunities to help “Stuff the Sleigh” in advance. Stay updated or get more information about either event, by emailing unitetrl@gmail.com or following the Facebook page.