Back to School Fair

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29

Where: Carroll C. Kendall Unit Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St.

Cost: Free

More info: Contact Patsene Dashiell, Sequim School District director of communications and volunteer coordinator, at 582-3264.

Sequim Gazette staff

In readying for the first day of school Tuesday, Sept. 1, officials with the Sequim School District, Parenting Matters Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, both partners with United Way of Clallam County, are collaborating to present the third annual “Back to School Fair.”

The fair is free and open to Sequim families with children ages birth-18 years old.

“Last year’s fair serviced approximately 400 children,” Patsene Dashiell, Sequim School District director of communications/volunteer coordinator, said. “We hope that number will double this year.”

Along with a multitude of resources and services for families preparing for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year, there will be free food, music, games, children’s books, haircuts, school supplies and backpacks for families in need, immunization, health care and dental information, car seat checks and information on local preschools and other early learning programs.

A police vehicle and fire truck will be on hand for children to better understand public safety. Additionally, families can tour a school bus to familiarize their children while finding out about transportation and bus routes.

“We’re really refining the fair this year to not only focus on helping families prepare, but to highlight the resources and services available to them so they can help their children be successful students,” Nicole Brewer, program director with Parenting Matters Foundation, said.

Prior to the Back to School Fair, the “Stuff the Bus” event is taking place from 2-6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14, in the Walmart parking lot, 1284 W. Washington St. A school bus, accompanied by a group of children from the Boys & Girls Club, will be there to collect public donations of school supplies for families in need, which will later be distributed during the fair.

Donated school supplies also may be dropped off at the district office between 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Fair sponsors include Castell Insurance, Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, Molina Healthcare, First Federal, Jamestown Family Dental Clinic, Sodexo and Walmart.