by Shawn Nowlin
As hard as it is to believe, the time to start planning for the upcoming academic year has arrived. With students returning to the classroom right around the corner, several local organizations are doing their part to help ease the financial burden that too many families experience every August.
On August 7, the Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP) of the Roanoke Valley hosted a back-to-school wellness rodeo. During the three-hour event, dozens of families received free haircuts, backpacks, snacks, supplies and other resources.
Bookbags were filled with paper, erasers, pencils, and more. To receive one, students needed to be accompanied by an adult. Donations by the community, businesses, and Straight Street made the opportunity possible.
Every child, according to a spokesperson, should have equal access to healthcare and enter school ready to learn. “We know that discrimination happens all the time all over this nation, most often to Black and Latinx people. CHIP stands in solidarity. We believe in dismantling systemic racism that affects every part of people’s lives. We only ask for patience as we learn strategies to be more culturally aware and check our blind spots for implicit biases,” they said.
While interacting with families, Chief Operation Officer Autumn Williams conveyed, “We are a home visiting program that serves women who are pregnant and young children through kindergarten. We absolutely understand how expensive going back to school can be, so we want to do our part to ensure that every child has a foundation for success. That is why this event is held every year.”
Bradley Free Clinic and Feeding Southwest VA were present to provide information on physicals and vaccines. Local salons also offered free haircuts.
It warms Dartonia Parker’s heart every time she volunteers for a city event and experiences the pure adulation of young people. “No family should have to struggle with basic school supplies. Too many households, unfortunately, have to decide between groceries and classroom supplies this time of the year. I’m grateful that events like this exist. It truly does make a difference,” the mental health advocate said.
Everyone involved departed Monday’s event in a great mood, especially Candace Dillingham who said this gesture couldn’t have come at a better time for her two young children. It’s not too late for people to still make a donation. Such information and more can be found at https://chiprv.org.
