Thousands of students will soon receive free school supplies, health screenings, haircuts and more at the 19th annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup.
The free event aims to give students who meet poverty guidelines a strong start to the school year and relieve families of unnecessary financial stress. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 8 at Tarrant County College’s South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive.
Joshua Willis, board president of the Tarrant County Back to School Roundup, said having a one-stop shop for families is important.
“It’s one less thing you have to do,” Willis said. “Not having to go pay for eye exams or having to go get your shots done for your kids … adds up pretty quickly.”
Families who registered in advance will be admitted starting at 8 a.m. Friday.
Beginning at noon, walk-ups will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must be present and accompanied by an adult with a valid photo ID.
In addition to free services, carnival-style rides and free treats will be available for students while they wait.
Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages donated 200 laptops for high school students, plus $70,000 worth of beverages and other resources.
Inflation and other economic factors have made this event even more vital for Tarrant County families, Willis said.
“We want to make sure that come the first day of school, they’re ready to go,” he said.
Willis encourages attendees to arrive early, wear sunscreen and bring a wagon or tote to carry items.
“There’s gonna be a lot of goodies and treats that’ll be coming from all of our sponsors,” he said. “Come ready to cool yourself and learn something you didn’t know going into the event.”
Isaiah Rodriguez is a reporting intern for the Fort Worth Report. He is part of the University of North Texas Scripps Howard Fund Emerging Journalists Program. Contact him at isaiah.rodriguez@fortworthreport.org.
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