Gabe Stark
Reporter

Bright Futures Trenton and community partners helped hundreds of area students prepare for the new school year during the organization’s annual Back to School event, providing everything from school supplies and shoes to haircuts, clothing and personal hygiene products.

A total of 377 students participated in the event, including 155 elementary students, 83 middle school students and 139 high school students. Bright Futures also reported serving 330 lunches and providing 223 students with new shoes.

The event brought together a wide range of services intended to remove some of the financial barriers families face as children return to the classroom.

Terri Critten, an organizer for Bright Futures Trenton, said the event is about more than simply distributing supplies.

“When every student has the supplies and resources they need for school — a backpack, the required school supplies, a new pair of shoes, etc. — we are setting them up for success and sending the message that this community cares for them and supports them,” Critten said.

Students received 250 backpacks, 377 sets of school supplies, 130 hygiene bags, 223 pairs of shoes, 44 pairs of underwear and 32 pairs of socks. Organizers also distributed 277 Bulldog shirts and hoodies, while 22 students received haircuts.

Critten said items such as personal hygiene products and fresh haircuts can help students build confidence, while Bulldog clothing can provide a sense of belonging within their school community.

The assistance can also ease a substantial financial burden for families. Critten said the average cost of school supplies alone can range from $75 to $170 per student, before accounting for clothing, shoes, hygiene products and other necessities.

“Everything is more expensive this year — shampoo, detergent, shoes, underwear, notebooks, glue sticks, markers, all of it,” Critten said.

She recalled one single mother of three young children saying that, aside from Christmas, preparing her children to return to school was the most expensive time of the year.

First Baptist Church partnered with Bright Futures to offer donated clothing, used shoes and some furniture to community members. Marjorie Keuhn said the church has held clothing giveaways for many years, including before Bright Futures was established. Church members donate items throughout the year, and the congregation also holds a separate giveaway around the beginning of December.

Keuhn said partnering with the back-to -school event makes the resources particularly useful to families preparing children for another school year.

“I think a lot of people have a hard time buying all these things,” Keuhn said. “It’s very expensive to buy all those things right when they need school.”

Anna Muselman said the giveaway reaches beyond students, with adults also coming through to find items they need.

“This event has helped a lot of families, especially when getting ready to start school,” she said. “Kids go through a lot of clothes.”

The effort was made possible by 71 volunteers, who contributed a combined 349 volunteer hours. Those volunteers included 13 Trenton High School students.

Bright Futures’ work continues throughout the school year.

Critten said the organization’s Food Pals program, formerly known as Backpack Buddies, provides groceries each month to more than 140 Grundy County students experiencing food insecurity.

As a nonprofit organization, Bright Futures depends on financial contributions and volunteers. Community members can assist by donating money or volunteering to pack food bags, shop for clothing, organize supplies and inventory resources.

“The best way to support the work of Bright Futures Trenton is by donating your time, your talent or your treasure,” Critten said.

To learn more about Bright Futures Trenton, including how to donate, visit facebook.com/BrightFuturesTrenton.