The Dickinson County Back to School Fair will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Abilene Community Center, 1020 N.W. Eighth. This is the sixth year for the information fair and school supply giveaway. Families can free school supplies and important information about area agencies.

“Kids In Crisis will center distribution of our school supply vouchers and book bags around families qualifying for free and reduced lunches,” said June DeWeese, KIC coordinator. “Forms are available at the HOPE Center, and Food and Clothing Bank in Abilene and Family Resource Exchange in Herington that parents can complete before Aug. 7 and bring to Abilene for the Back-to-School Fair. Parents must remember that copies of letters from the schools proving their children qualify for free or reduced lunches must be attached to each application for free supplies. Vouchers for $15 will be available for free-lunch recipients and vouchers for $10 will go to reduced-lunch children with all receiving free backpacks.”

Children attending the Back To School Fair will either qualify for the voucher and book bag from Kids In Crisis or will be able to receive an age appropriate school supplies pack while supplies last.

Free school supplies for all income levels will be available from many of the booths as long as supplies last.

Agencies that will be providing booths at the Back To School Fair include: Abilene’s Police Department with CHIPS, OCCK, Kansas Kids In Crisis, Ft. Riley Outreach, Abilene Masonic Lodge, Abilene Physical Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Central Kansas Mental Health, Children and Families Coalition Safe Kids Program, Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners, Consumer Credit Counseling, Parents As Teachers, Infant Toddler program of Dickinson County, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, Dickinson County Health Department, Health and Wellness Coalition, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, Heartland Programs, Memorial Health Systems Learn & Grow Depot and Impact Sports and Fitness, Quality of Life Coalition’s Underage Drinking Program, Smart Start Dickinson County, and Sonshine House Christian Preschool.

People living in southeast Dickinson County can receive a free ride to the Back-to-School Fair in Abilene by meeting the OCCK bus in Herington at either 8 or 9 a.m.. Riders must pre-register by calling 785-200-4619 and leaving a message that they want to ride, and then meeting the bus outside of Family Resource Exchange, 715 S. Broadway, Herington.

Sponsors and donors for the Back-to School Fair include Abilene Parks & Recreation, OCCK, Abilene Kiwanis, Pinnacle Bank, First Bank Kansas and other participating agencies and businesses.

The Back-to-School Fair is scheduled on the same day as Dollar day carnival rides at the Central Kansas Free Fair. That allows parents to gain needed school information and supplies and be able to enjoy the CKFF while in Abilene, providing a great day for children and parents alike!

This year donation boxes will be available for anyone wanting to donate school supplies. Donations left in boxes will supplement those supplies to be given away at the Back To School Fair. Donations may be dropped off July 21-July 30 at Abilene Rent-All and Sales, 1701 W. 1st St., Abilene Community Center, 1020 NW 8th; and the Abilene Public Library, 209 NW 4th St. Individuals who would like to donate a monetary gift may send it to the Quality of Life Coalition at 203 N Cedar, Abilene

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