Springfield Back to School Bash has giveaways, KC Wolf and more

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For the third year, Springfield Public Schools is hosting a Back to School Bash for families.

Through the one-stop shop, parents and students can pick up needed supplies, including a new backpack, and access resources before the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

They can get vaccinated, undergo a sports test and fill out forms for free or reduced school meals.

“This is one of the ways we show how much we care. This is a day of service for staff and employees — giving back to our community,” said Ron Woodard, director of family support services for SPS. “We just want to make it great. When we say we care, we mean it.”

More than 175 volunteers have signed up to help families from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at the Springfield Expo Center, 635 E. St. Louis St.

The event is free and open to all SPS students and their families.

What are the giveaways?

There will be several locations throughout the expansive Expo Center where families can pick up items that will provide immediate relief, such as groceries, as well as school-related giveaways for the start of the school year.

The list of free items is long and includes:

  • Two bags of free groceries from Convoy of Hope
  • Bombas socks
  • Backpacks
  • School supplies
  • Hygiene products from Care to Learn
  • Vaccinations and sports examinations

Families can enjoy a meal while they are there. There will be live entertainment and fun activities for children, including bouncy castles.

Do you need a sports medical examination? How to register:

Sports medical exams are offered free of charge, but families are asked to pre-register. Appointments are available every 15 minutes, with the last ones starting at 1:30 p.m.

The registration page is here: www.sps.org/bash.

Families who have a printer can download and print the sports results in advance.

The CoxHealth CARE Mobile is located on the top floor of the Expo Center where families enter. There is a large banner hanging.

What’s new this year?

Families can have their picture taken with KC Wolf, the Kansas City Chiefs mascot.

“We wanted to bring in the mascot. We thought it would be great for kids,” Woodard said. “Springfield is known as Chiefs Kingdom South, so we thought it would be fun to have their organization involved in what we’re doing.”

According to Woodard, the quality of the prizes raffled off to families during the event will also increase.

There is also an “Express Lane” this year for backpacks and other essential items to help families navigate the crowds. “We’ve improved the overall quality of the event to get people in and out.”

Who is present at the commodity exchange?

At least 50 nonprofit, charity and educational organizations have signed up to set up a booth at the party.

“People can reach out to different community partners who can provide resources and information to families to help them start the new year off right,” said Jessica Blake, coordinator of community partnerships, volunteers and public relations.

When asked to name some examples of groups that will be attending, Blake said they include Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and the Springfield Fire Department to the Council of Churches of the Ozarks and Ozarks Food Harvest.

Blake said Ozark Food Harvest will have vouchers for eggs from Vital Farms.

“It’s a very broad range of partners. They’re all working to help over 5,000 people,” she said. “They’re very excited to be part of the event and they want to be there to support families, just like we are.”

There will also be a job fair

During the event, families can apply for jobs.

There will be a number of local employers in attendance who are looking for new staff, including SPS, who are looking for new vacancies.

“A lot of people miss out on that, but we have businesses that are looking for employees,” Woodard said. “For some of our families that may be low income, this is a great opportunity to potentially find a job that is a better fit for them.”

What is the best time to come?

The event starts at 9:30 a.m., but for the past two years, families have been lining up long before the doors open, starting at the Expo Center and extending east along St. Louis Street.

Last year over 5,000 people showed up. The event ends at 2:00 PM.

Rather than sending families in one direction, Woodard said they are encouraged to start at different points, which will hopefully prevent bottlenecks.

“People can start anywhere at the event,” he said. “That’s the language they’re going to hear from line hosts and volunteers.”

What is the best place to park?

There is a parking garage just east of the Expo Center and limited street and nearby parking.

Why is the event at the end of July?

The new school year is still more than a month away. Students will return to school on Monday, August 19th.

More: When is the first day of school for schools and colleges in the Springfield area?

Woodard said parents wondered why SPS scheduled the event for late July. He said the district wanted to get the resources out to families ahead of Missouri’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which is Aug. 2-4.

During that three-day tax-free period, certain purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers and other items defined by state law, are exempt from sales tax.

“We can provide a lot of supplies, backpacks and things like that, but if there are supplies that parents need that they didn’t get from us, they can buy them the following week during the tax-free weekend for a good price,” Woodard said. “We felt that was important.”

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