Denton, TX (July 5, 2018) – Denton area organizations and nonprofits are collaborating to consolidate three previous back to school events into the Denton Back to School Fair. The inaugural event will be held on Saturday, August 11th from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at UNT Gateway Center (801 North Texas Blvd) to support approximately 3,500 students and their families with school supplies, backpacks, health education resources, and so much more.
In previous years, Interfaith Ministries, Denton Police Department and Health Services of North Texas all hosted independent back-to-school events for Denton ISD students. By working together, the Denton Back to School Fair will be able to “do more, serve more and eliminate redundancies,” as explained by Denton police representative Cleo Birckbichler.
In Denton, 44% of Denton ISD students qualify for free and reduced lunch with a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. In addition to giving these students a new backpack and school supplies, this event equips the parents with resources their children need to have a confident and healthy start to the school year.
Community support of this event is vital. The estimated cost to gift 3,500 students with backpacks and school supply packs is $61,250. Area businesses, community leaders and individual donors are asked to join the effort by donating to purchase backpacks and supplies to serve these children.
Additional community partners joining forces to help families and their students as they prepare for going back to school include: City of Denton, Denton Bible Church, Denton Hi-Noon Lions Club, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Serve Denton, and United Way of Denton County.
Parents are asked to register their children through the website at www.dentonbacktoschool.org. A registration form must be submitted for each child.
More information is available on the Denton Back to School Fair website at www.dentonbacktoschool.org.