DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. — An impactful event that happened in District Heights, Maryland in the days leading up to the school year is getting us uplifted.
Classes started in Prince George's County Public Schools on Monday. But before they did, students were able to grab some supplies at the 12th annual "Back 2 School Health & Wellness Festival," hosted by the Greater Washington Urban League and Second Baptist Church.
By now, students are busy putting all those back to school supplies to good use in the more than 200 public schools across the district.
With back to school expenses on the rise, this help from the community goes such a long way for families.
State and local politicians and school board members from the county joined in on the fun as deserving students were given 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.
Festival organizations say the goal is to promote children’s success and make sure they have access to wealth and wellness resources for the upcoming school year and beyond.
Free health resources were available including health screenings and vaccinations and a free book fair. And a marketplace featuring local Black owned businesses to purchase from. And there was no shortage of family fun, like a dunk tank and a go-go band.
This community-wide free event really highlights the old saying, “it takes a village to raise a child.”