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THE SECOND SATURDAY OF AUGUST MEANS A NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS NEAR, AND THAT BRINGS HUNDREDS OF GRAND PRAIRIE STUDENTS TO THE CHARLIE TAYLOR RECREATION CENTER TO PICK OUT FREE BACKPACKS, GET SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND EVEN GRAB SOME SNACKS.
I GOT A DINOSAUR MONEY AND A MECHANICAL CANCER AND A REGULAR, IT'S THE CITY'S ANNUAL SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY SPONSORED BY THE PARTS ARTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND WELLPOINT HEALTH SERVICES, A ONE STOP SHOP TO HELP THE STUDENTS GEAR UP FOR A NEW YEAR IN THE CLASSROOM, AND TO ALSO SHOWCASE FOR PARENTS SOME OF THE GREAT RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE SAME COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'LL SOON SEND THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SERVICED PROPERLY.
FOR ME, OVER THE COURSE OF TIME IN THE CAREER, UH, I, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE WORD COMMUNITY A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH, AND RIGHT THERE EMBEDDED IN THE WORD COMMUNITY IS THE WORD UNITY.
AND SO THE WHOLE IDEA IS HOW CAN WE SERVE, HOW CAN WE PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR SCHOOL? HOW CAN WE PUT A MEAL IN A PERSON'S HAND THAT MAY BE HUNGRY? HOW CAN WE DO ALL THESE THINGS? AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING OURSELVES TOGETHER UNDER THAT WORD, UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT MAKES ME FEEL PROUD THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABLE TO STEP INTO SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY WITH ALL THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BACKPACKS, WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS ARE SO THEY CAN SUCCEED.
IT'S JUST A JOY TO JUST GET ALL THESE RESOURCES TOGETHER AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS IN GRAND PRAIRIE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
NEARLY 800 BACKPACKS WERE HANDED OUT DURING THIS YEAR'S GIVEAWAY EVENT.