1,000 backpacks donated at Back to School Jam Friday

Aug. 7—Area children were the beneficiaries of about 1,000 backpacks full of school supplies Friday at the annual Back to School Jam at Ingalls Harbor. And Decatur Youth Services Director Brandon Watkins said it is always a "blessing" to assist the children and their parents every year.

"It's a joy to be able to help unfortunate people and to help out the schools," Watkins said. "It's something we work hard for every year to make sure kids are ready to get back to school."

Hundreds of kids and parents were at the event, playing on inflatables, dancing to music and enjoying fresh hot dogs and hamburgers, all free of charge.

Watkins said DYS started the event more than 20 years ago to assist children from low-income backgrounds.

"A lot of kids didn't have book bags, so we wanted to make sure they were equal and not less than the other kids who had book bags," Watkins said.

DYS Assistant Director Shannon Shackelford said donations this year were from the Decatur Housing Authority, the Kiwanis Club of Decatur and the Rotary Noon Club of Decatur. Each organization donated at least $1,000.

Winston Engram also presented Decatur Youth Services with a $250 check at the event on behalf of George W. Braxdall Lodge No. 28 in Decatur to help offset the cost of the backpacks and supplies. Engram said the lodge has donated to the event for many years.

"It feels good," Engram said. "A lot of our own children have come through and participated, so it's a joy to give back to the community."

Ariah Stovall and her friends Olivia and Brayden Thomas, all three eighth-grade students at Decatur Middle School, showed each other the new markers, colored pencils and notebooks they received. They come to the Back to School Jam every year.

"This is a good opportunity, especially if you're homeless and trying to get into school, you can always come up here and get a free backpack," Stovall said.

Brayden Thomas said he was thankful to get some extra pencils this year because he's always breaking pencils in class.

Shankerri Taylor came to the Jam to pick up supplies for her neighbor's children, who attend Austin Middle.

"It's great they're helping the community because some people just don't got it," Taylor said. "Everything is going up, and everybody needs help."

Shackelford said that this year the event featured a teacher's corner, where teachers could receive free classroom supplies.

Austin Junior High teacher Elizabeth Webb stocked up for her classroom and reconnected with former students who were at the event.

"I think it's very generous of (Decatur Youth Services) to give us all this," said Webb, who teaches ninth grade Spanish and French. "I mainly came to connect with the parents and the students and the community because I really want us to be partners and work together for our students so they can have the very best."

— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.