Megan Hoffman, a special education aid at Artman Elementary School, hands Ja’vion Warfield, 13, of Sharon, a box of colored pencils during the Back to School Bash on Wednesday at the St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church social center in Hermitage. HERMITAGE — As tables covered in school supplies filled the social center of St.
Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Jalen Jackson had a few reasons to be thankful for the annual Back to School Bash Wednesday. Accompanied by his two children and godchild, Jackson said this time of year can be costly for parents when it comes to purchasing school supplies for multiple kids. His children’s extracurriculars, including wrestling and cheerleading, also put supplies such as backpacks under additional wear-and-tear, which means new supplies need to be purchased every year.
But thanks to the Back to School Bash, parents and children could grab a free backpack and other supplies such as highlighters, pencils, or crayons, along with a snack such as pizza or treats from Rita’s Italian Ice. “This is a beautiful thing they have here,” said Jackson, a Sharon native who now lives in Hermitage. The Back to School Bash started in 2018 as a partnership between the Hermitage School District and Primary Health Network.
Event volunteer and organizer Tracy Schliep said the supplies were made possible by donations and sponsorships from the community and local businesses, with the Hermitage School District administering the event. A lea.