Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
All through July the Kern River Valley Elks Lodge and other organizations, hand in hand with Senator Shannon Grove’s office, participated in a backpack drive with organizations distributing the back to school items. The distribution event was at the Elks Lodge, in Wofford Heights, Saturday August 3.
Last year the KRV Elks Lodge had more than 200 backpacks to distribute, just as they did this year. Participating organizations, this year, included high school backpacks and other school supplies within its give away.
The organizations gave away black backpacks with various color zippers to choose from and a plethora of styles of lunch pails for younger children.
Organizer for the event, Pat Terrell said, “This is our 17th annual year. We used to just have a little carnival thing and a few back to school (items.) And then one of our members had the idea to get the backpacks and put school supplies in, so that we’ve been doing for 17 years. Last year we gave away 211 backpacks. With the fire and everything we’ve had some disruptions.”
The Elks Lodge was planning to have backpacks available for folks who couldn’t come to the event that morning, due to the evacuations, Terrell said.
Drug awareness is one of the Elks’ big things. Terrell told the Kern Valley Sun, “We serve communities, we serve youth and we serve veterans. And one of our youth activities is drug awareness so kids can have a bright future.”
Colleen Holmes, the Elks’ Drug Awareness organizer said that the organization educates the public regarding drug awareness and holds educational projects during Whiskey Flat Days, and Christmas as well as other occasions.
Having previously worked with Liberty Ambulance, Holmes said that her experiences working for the company inspired her educating the public regarding drug awareness, and that kids were always important to her.
Holmes manned a table with volunteers Kim Riley and Tina Baer during the event, giving away bags to the kids with fidgets, coloring books, crayons, stuffed animals and book marks along with drug awareness pamphlets for parents.
Vendors at the event included US Forest Service, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty Ambulance, and Search and Rescue.
Kern River Valley Bridge Connection was one organization helping to distribute school supplies. Founder of KRVBC Karen Zuber said, “Teachers always ask for students to bring in supplies, so we’re going to donate them to the students, so that they don’t feel left out. And then we have teen backpacks for the older kids.”
During the event children enjoyed games, including a very safe ax-throwing target game, a classic pins-knock-over game, and a moon bounce. Locals enjoyed a BBQ lunch.
Smokey Bear, who celebrated his 80-year birthday this year, also surprised kids by showing up unexpectedly.
