Waushara County – Paying school registration fees and purchasing required school supplies can be a financial hardship for many families. The start of the school year can be especially stressful for parents and students if they return to school without the expected supplies and know their parents can’t afford them. The Back to School Bash depends on support of local business, civic groups and community members to ensure community children have the tools they need to learn when they head back to school.
Planning is underway for the 18th annual Back to School Bash. The Back to School Bash is coordinated by the Waushara County Department of Human Services to assist financially fragile families. The Back to School Bash provides backpacks and school supplies for Waushara County children in need. Last year, the project provided backpacks of school supplies to more than 450 children.
The project’s annual donation drive kicks off on Wednesday, July 10th and runs through August 1st. Donations of backpacks, 1” binders, colored markers (10pk), colored pencils, highlighters, 24pk Crayola Crayons, spiral notebooks, pencil cases and small blunt tipped scissors are among the items being collected. Back to School Bash donations can be dropped off at the Waushara County Department of Human Services Office at 230 West Park Street, Wautoma or dropped in donation totes located in communities throughout Waushara County. In Wautoma, look for totes at: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Hometown Bank, Associated Bank, BMO Bank, Old National Bank, Start Farm-Dopp Agency and the Wautoma Public Library. In Wild Rose, totes will be available at the Farmers State Bank, Centex Coop, United Methodist Church, United Presbyterian Church, ThedaCare Hospital and the Patterson Memorial Library. In Plainfield/Hancock/Coloma communities, totes will be available at the Plainfield Library, Portage County Bank, the Hancock Bank and the Coloma Library. In Redgranite, totes will be available at the First Congregational Church, Hometown Bank, BR Diner and the Curve-In Café.
Monetary donations can also be made payable to Waushara County DHS-Back to School Bash and mailed to P.O. Box 1230 Wautoma, WI 54982.
The Back to School Bash will be held Saturday, August 10th in the basement demonstration room of the Waushara County Courthouse. School supplies will be distributed from 8-11am on a first-come first-serve basis. To offset program costs, $2.00 per backpack fee will be collected. Proof of Waushara County residency is required.
Back to School Bash also offers pre-registration with pick up on Friday, August 9th from 5-7pm. Friday pick up is limited to families who pre-register. Proof of residency and program fees will be required. Pre-register forms can be completed electronically at http:///bit.do/BTSB2019preregistration or in person at the Waushara County Department of Human Services at 230 West Park Street, Wautoma, WI
To learn more about Waushara County’s Back to School Bash or make a donation, contact Angie Konieczki at 920-787-6550 angie.konieczki@co.waushara.wi.us or Jan Novak at 920-787-6600 jan.novak@co.waushara.wi.us
