FARMINGTON -- Samantha Moore, her sister and cousin showed up at 10 a.m. Thursday to wait seven hours for the doors to open for the 13th annual Farmington Back to School Bonanza.
"It's amazing to be able to get them the stuff they need," Moore of Fayetteville said.
They brought their 15 children to the Bonanza for free tennis shoes, backpacks, socks, underwear and haircuts.
Farmington United Methodist Church sponsors the annual event with the help of many from the community. Along with church members, others who volunteer are Farmington teachers and staff, student groups, the Boy Scouts, about 25 hair stylists, a local doctor and local dentists. The event is open for children through 12th grade.
Melody Braudrick of West Fork brought her two sons to the Farmington Bonanza for the first time. She is a single mom in nursing school, adding this is the first time she has needed help for her boys to start school.
"This is fantastic," Braudrick said as her sons waited their turn to be served. "Paying for school has depleted all my funds. This is very helpful."
Mary Jane Silva, who coordinates the Bonanza for the church, said the Bonanza served 525 students from 201 families.
Children from Farmington, Prairie Grove, Fayetteville and Springdale come each year but Silva said she saw where families from other smaller towns, such as Elkins and West Fork, also participated this year.
"I think it's significant that we got the word out better to those areas," Silva said.
She expressed her appreciation to all those who volunteered, saying it takes about 200 people to make the event a success each year.
Silva said she was reading in her devotion the next morning about a person wondering if they were making a difference in life.
The goal of the Bonanza is to share the love of God, Silva said.
"I just feel like every year we don't know the ripples and effects this will have, how far it will reach," Silva said. "It just keeps going and going."
Farmington United Methodist has a new pastor, Dee Harper, and Harper stood at the door to greet families as they came into the church. He and his family moved to Farmington from Des Arc in July.
"I think this is awesome," Harper said. "I think it's awesome the way this church and the community work together to bless others."
As families come into the church they are given a number. Numbers are called and a volunteer stays with the family as they go through different stations set up at the Bonanza.
The first place children stop is a foot-washing station. Church members and others wash feet but at the same time, they visit with children, asking them questions about their upcoming school year.
From there, children are given a new pair of socks before heading over to be fitted with a new pair of tennis shoes.
Laura Willett, 11, of Fayetteville found a new pair of blue tennis shoes to start the new year.
"I think it's cool that they do this and they let all the kids get new shoes for the school year," Laura said, as she held her shoe box.
The Lions Club provides vision screenings. Local doctors give free physicals for kindergarten students and dentists and their assistants provide dental screenings.
In other areas, volunteers are available to pray for families. From the church's worship center, children go into the foyer to pick out a new backpack and then head to the church's fellowship hall.
In the fellowship hall, hair stylists provide free haircuts and items, such as free shampoo and other toiletries, are given out to children as they go out the door.
Church member Martha DeVault has helped with the Bonanza many years and she said it is mutually beneficial to all involved.
"The people are wonderful who come. They need help," DeVault said. "It's good for them and good for us."
General News on 08/09/2017