Arnold, New Kensington groups band together for Back to School Bash

Several Arnold and New Kensington organizations are banding together to help make sure students are ready to go back to school.

A Back to School Bash is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Roosevelt Park in Arnold.

Students in the New Kensington-Arnold School District return to schools Aug. 29.

Parents this year are faced with equipping their children for school during surging inflation, which hit a new 40-year high in June. The National Retail Federation said families plan to spend an average of $864 on school items.

“We want to ease the burden on some of the families and make sure the kids are equipped with what they need to start school,” said Donelle “Belle” Owen, executive director of The Youth Project in New Kensington.

Among the event’s sponsors, The Youth Project, Humble Ministries and Help the Needy Not the Greedy, are providing the school supplies.

“It’s needed, especially with the economic situation at the moment,” said Jerry Jefferson, the pastor at Humble Ministries in New Kensington.

The Tomb is supplying backpacks; Mrs. Nix Event Center is bringing the games and bounce houses; and Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church members are bringing food.

“Each agency is a resource for the community, and this is just one of the ways that we give back,” Owen said.

Everything will be free, and the event is open to anyone who needs help, Owen said.

Supplies will be available for up to 300 children, which is how many came for the bash last year.

Other vendors such as Highmark, UPMC and CareerLink also will be attending, Owen said.

Jefferson, whose nondenominational church was part of the effort last year, said he is happy to be part of the event because he wants to see the community come together.

“As long as you’re working with people who don’t care who gets the credit, it’s easy. It’s being done for the right reason,” he said. “There are people in the community that really are just for the community. It’s a blessing to see the kingdom in action.”