Dozens get free backpacks, school supplies at King Kennedy Community Center event

Derek Kreider, Record-Courier
·2 min read
Two-year-old Daiyana Davis plays with a balloon Saturday at the back-to-school event Saturday at King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.
Two-year-old Daiyana Davis plays with a balloon Saturday at the back-to-school event Saturday at King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.

Families from all around Portage County were invited to pick up free school supplies and engage in some last-minute summer fun Saturday at the King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.

In the spirit of the back-to-school season, Anitra Tolbert of Tasty Encounter Catering Co., Erica Felder of Chiron Health and Human Service, and Myia Sanders, program manager at the King Kennedy Community Center (KKCC), organized the event, held from noon to 4 p.m. Representatives from the Skeels-Mathews Community Center were present, assisting with the event.

Amiracle Tolbert serves hots dogs with Terrance Jones first in line Saturday at the back-to-school event at King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.
Amiracle Tolbert serves hots dogs with Terrance Jones first in line Saturday at the back-to-school event at King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.

Sanders estimated that by 1 p.m. at least 60 people had come through, and probably more.

Backpacks and school supplies to fill them with were handed out for free to anyone needing them. There was no income level requirement.

Savannah Wilborn, 13, has her hair done Saturday at the back-to-school event at Ravenna's King Kennedy Community Center.
Savannah Wilborn, 13, has her hair done Saturday at the back-to-school event at Ravenna's King Kennedy Community Center.

An inflatable bounce house, 360-degree photo booth and face painting station were on-site to entertain kids. Hair cuts and styling were available for the children as well. University Hospitals provided lunch.

Veronica Cline, a mother of three with a daughter starting kindergarten this year, said the event has been helpful. Without it, she would have been on the hook for school supplies in the midst of record-high inflation.

"If it hadn't been for my friend Chelsea here, I wouldn't have known about it," Cline said.

Robert White Jr. puts his shoes back on playing on the inflatable slide and bounce house Saturday at the King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.
Robert White Jr. puts his shoes back on playing on the inflatable slide and bounce house Saturday at the King Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna.

Chelsea Johnston, who has two daughters, said the event at the KKCC helped her out immensely.

"I was very excited to come here," Johnston said. "It's nice to take a little bit of stress away from having to worry about grabbing everything for the kids at the last minute. I only make a certain amount on a weekly basis. On a fixed income, it helps a lot."

Both Johnston and Cline said they'll be back when the event returns to the KKCC for the 2023 back-to-school season.

Pokemon, aka 7-year-old Terrance Jones, roller-skates while dribbling a basketball Saturday at the King Kennedy Community Center back-to-school event in Ravenna.
Pokemon, aka 7-year-old Terrance Jones, roller-skates while dribbling a basketball Saturday at the King Kennedy Community Center back-to-school event in Ravenna.

The community center was built in the McElrath neighborhood in 1978 when it was considered one of the most underprivileged rural communities in America.

In 2002, KKCC merged with Family & Community Services Inc. In 2020, it broke ground on a new gymnasium and multiuse facility. This month, the outdoor basketball court received a fresh coat of paint.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at dkreider@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Back-to-school event held at King Kennedy Community Center