SERVE seeks vendors for back-to-school fair

With help from community sponsors, SERVE distributed more than 650 book bags packed with school supplies during its 2012 Back to School Fair. SERVE currently is looking for area groups and individuals to help sponsor tables at this year's fair, to be held on Aug. 10 at Fulton High School.
With help from community sponsors, SERVE distributed more than 650 book bags packed with school supplies during its 2012 Back to School Fair. SERVE currently is looking for area groups and individuals to help sponsor tables at this year's fair, to be held on Aug. 10 at Fulton High School.

More than 650 Callaway County children started the 2012-13 school year fully armed with supplies thanks to SERVE's first Back to School Fair.

As organizers prepare for the 2013 event - to be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 10 at Fulton High School - they are asking area businesses, groups and residents to once again help meet that need.

Callaway Action Network Director Julie Roark said she currently has 20 booth sponsors lined up to provide items such as facial tissues, notebooks, pens and hand sanitizer, but more support is needed.

"We are absolutely welcoming new vendors or anyone interested in providing information about a service they provide or a business they have," Roark said. "This year we're trying to get some different items, like USB (drives) for the older kids."

She said there still is a need for table sponsors for items such as three-ring binders, markers, colored pencils and notebooks.

"In general, we need a little bit of everything," Roark said.

As with last year, the SERVE Back to School Fair will include free haircuts in addition to vision, dental, spinal and hearing screenings.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.