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Back to school

16th Back to School Bash is Thursday

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Melissa Verschoor, general manager of the Crossroads Mall, looks over a variety of school supplies at the mall Monday afternoon. Verschoor said if it’s on a school list the mall will have it at the Back to School Bash on Thursday.

Crossroads Mall is stocked with pencils, erasers, folders and backpacks to help families prepare for school again.

That’s because the mall is hosting the 16th Back to School Bash on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“It’s a great community event,” said Melissa Verschoor, general manager of the mall. “There’s something here for all families, not just kids who need backpacks.”

She added, “If it’s on a school list, it’s here.”

All the stores in the mall will remain open during the event.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Melissa Verschoor, general manager of Crossroads Mall, holds up one of dozens of backpacks that will be provided during the annual Back to School Bash at the mall Thursday.

About 40 vendors will be on hand, according to Alisa Schlief, family and community services director with Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc.

Upper Des Moines sponsors the Back to School Bash.

“These are area providers and some businesses,” Schlief said of the vendors. “Each of them has been asked to have an activity for a child to do while they are there and are also able to gain more information about that agency or provider.”

Verschoor added, “It’s really nice to see all the different agencies come together to support the kids of Webster County, showing what they have to offer, but doing it in a fun way.”

There will also be snacks.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Bundles of No. 2 pencils will be available at the Back to School Bash event on Thursday at the Crossroads Mall.

The Webster County Pork Producers will be serving up pork burgers and hot dogs.

The success of the event is made possible in part through donations.

This year an unexpected donation was made.

“Someone anonymously donated 500 hot dogs for the event,” Verschoor said.

The most popular feature of the Bash is the backpacks. That project is also completed through donations.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A sea of eraser tips are displayed.

Last Friday, 4-H volunteers were busy preparing them.

“We pack about 800 every year and it’s about a $10,000 project,” Schlief said.

Those who still need a backpack can register Thursday night.

“They just won’t be able to pick their bags up that night,” Schlief said. “They will have to give us a week to get them packed and then we can make contact with the family to get those to them.”

The backpack program is ongoing.

“This is a program that never has a deadline,” Schlief said. “If someone moves into our district in November and needed help with their kids’ school supplies, we would be able to provide that service to them to help them start their year off fresh here in Fort Dodge.”

People who wish to donate to the program can call UDMO at 576-7774.

“Without community support and partnerships we have formed with area businesses and some local groups, we would not be able to do this program,” Schlief said. “We don’t have money in our normal budget to provide this.”

She added, “People can donate monetary or supplies. If we don’t have to go out and shop for them and they just want to bring us a bucket full of supplies, that would be amazing.”

Schlief said the Bash is a way to help students start the year off right.

“The mission behind this project always is that every student in Webster County gets to start the first day of school off on the same foot with all the supplies they need to have a successful school year,” she said.

Schlief said it’s fun to see students receive the backpacks.

“The event is just to get everybody, including the parents, excited for going back to school,” Schlief said. “Kids get excited about getting their school supplies, especially the little ones. Those kindergartners love getting a new backpack.”

Some important Fort Dodge Community School District back to school dates:

Aug. 13 — Fort Dodge Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade fall sports sign-up

Aug. 15 — FDMS and Fort Dodge Senior High student activity ticket pick-up

Aug. 17 — FDSH Fall Sports Kickoff

Aug. 20 — FDMS fall sports practices begin

Aug. 23 — Sixth-grade orientation

Aug. 27 — TK-fourth-grade welcome conferences

Aug. 27 — Preschool open house

Aug. 27 — Fifth-grade orientation

Aug. 27 — Seventh-grade orientation

Aug. 28 — Fifth-grade orientation

Aug. 28 — Eighth-grade orientation

Aug. 28 — Freshmen orientation

Aug. 29 — School starts

Classes at St. Edmond begin:

Aug. 23 — School starts

16th annual Back to School Bash

Where: Crossroads Mall

When: Thursday

Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

*Supply lists for the FDCSD can be found by visiting fdschools.org, find the blue box on the homepage that reads “student registration,” then scroll down to “2018-19 School Supply Lists.”

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