Third annual event to help students start school year "the right way'

Callaway County businesses and civic organizations plan to send area students to school with everything they need during SERVE Inc.'s third annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday.

Parents who need help with their students' school supply lists can find all the necessities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Callaway Christian Church in Fulton.

Callaway Action Network Director Julie Roark said the fair "is definitely getting bigger and better" with 44 stations this year handing out everything from crayons and pencils to rulers and protractors.

"I'm excited because we've got some new people getting involved this year and some of the same people," Roark said. "We've got lots of great school supplies as well as extras like hygiene and paper products."

She said some items still needed for the fair include lined, loose-leaf paper, three-ring binders, highlighters, bottles of glue and glue sticks and folders.

Last year about 740 children made their way through the fair, and Roark said she expects at least that many this year.

"Every year we set the goal to make sure we have enough for 800 kids, and we keep getting closer to that," she said. "It's important for the community to get behind the kids and show them education is important - it does make an impression."

Although school supplies are the main focus of the event, the fair also includes free haircuts and hearing, dental and vision checks, as well as a visit from the library's Bookmobile, a firetruck and food.

"It will be a great time," Roark said. "We want people to come, have fun and get the things they need to start the school year off the right way."