Farmington and Lincoln communities served more than 260 families and more than 600 children during their annual Back 2 School Bonanzas held last week.
Each one was changed from an in-person event to drive-thru service because of covid-19 concerns. Both also required families to register ahead of time.
"We wanted to stay positive and focus on something we could do," said Mary Jane Silva, who coordinates Farmington's Back 2 School Bonanza for Farmington United Methodist Church.
This was Farmington's 16th year to host a Bonanza to help prepare students for a new school year. Normally, students would be able to get free tennis shoes and socks, haircuts, backpacks and personal items. Church members wash children's feet. Others pray for families and different organizations set up booths with information for families.
Each year about 100 people volunteer at the Farmington Bonanza.
This year, families pre-registered for the event and were given an appointed time to pick up their items. Volunteers worked all day and into the evening. Each child received a free pair of tennis shoes and some school supplies. Each family also took home at least one free pizza for dinner that night.
Farmington served 136 families and 319 children. Silva said a majority of the families were from Farmington. Others came from Prairie Grove, Lincoln, West Fork, Springdale, Fayetteville, St. Paul, Siloam Springs, Elkins and one family from Colcord, Okla.
The Arkansas Family Health Foundation set up its ARcare mobile unit in the church parking lot and it was available for free kindergarten physicals and immunizations.
Pastor Dee Harper said the bonanza is a way to show love for community.
"Our faith teaches us to love our neighbor," Harper said. "This is a way for us to help families in our community and in Northwest Arkansas so they can have a great start to this school year. During this time of the pandemic, it's especially important to give back to others."
Silva said there are some logistics from this year's drive-thru that she may keep for future years. Having families pre-register and giving them specific times to show up to pickup their bags helped because it wasn't as hectic with everyone showing up at once, she said.
It's possible she may have a pre-registration next year, she said.
Lincoln's Back 2 School Bonanza is sponsored by Central United Methodist Church in Lincoln and Lincoln Bright Futures. Many volunteers were on hand last week at Lincoln Elementary School to provide backpacks to families as vehicles came through the parking lot.
Lincoln served 133 families and 295 children, according to Rachel Krest, pastor of Central United Methodist.
Each child received a backpack with a free pair of tennis shoes and socks, a fabric mask handmade by the church's Crazy Quilters group, apple and snack food, hand sanitizer, pencils and a few other items such as markers and a toothbrush.
In addition to the church and Bright Futures, many businesses, organizations and individuals donated money or in-kind services. Krest said she especially wanted to mention Judy Cohea, who helped organize the event for the church.
"We're very grateful for the community involvement," Krest said.
Krest said Lincoln's Back 2 School Bonanza was very successful, despite the circumstances. Like Silva, Krest said requiring parents to pre-register was very helpful, and she would like to see that happen again in future years.
"We were able to prepare the backpacks ahead of time and personalize the backpacks," she said. In addition, some students needed shoe sizes outside the norm and the volunteers were able to meet those needs.
Krest prayed with all the families who came through.
"I socially distanced and had a masked prayer," she said.
Krest said a majority of the families were from the Lincoln area.
