Back to School Roundup to benefit students, families

Haskell County's Back to School Roundup is just days away.

The annual event is organized by Haskell County Coalition, with the assistance of several community partners. 

The purpose is to make sure that students' immunizations are up-to-date and to provide school supplies, explained Royce Alverson, chairman of the Coalition.

Roundup organizers explained they are pleased to help families with school-age children each year.

“It's a pleasure for the Coalition to offer this every year. Seeing the smiles on the children's faces and the relief on the parents’ faces is worth the effort we put into it every year,” Alverson said.

The event will be conducted on Tuesday, July 30, from  4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kiamichi Technology Center in Stigler. Registration will begin at 3:30 p.m. Organizers explained that students and their parents or guardians do not need to arrive early and they will participate in the event as a family.

 In order to receive backpacks filled with school supplies, families must provide verification that their students' immunizations are up to date and that they have visited the resource tables at the roundup. Organizers encourage parents and guardians to make sure their student's immunizations are up-to-date before they attend the roundup. This can be accomplished during normal hours of operation at Haskell County Health Department, Choctaw Nation Health Clinic and Health & Wellness Center.  If immunizations are confirmed at one of these locations before the roundup, the student will receive a “Golden Ticket.”  The “Golden Ticket” will be exchanged for a punch card at the roundup. After the student visits resource tables, they may turn in their completed punch card and receive a backpack with school supplies.

While organizers encourage early confirmation of immunizations, which will speed up the process, health department representatives will be at the roundup and can make sure the immunizations are up-to-date at that time.  In addition to the backpacks and school supplies, clothing and haircuts will be offered at the roundup.Families participating in the roundup can select clothes in the mobile  clothing closet provided by Shared Blessings of McAlester. Curl Up & Dye will be offering up to 60 haircuts free of charge. This will be on a first come, first served basis, organizers explained.

Resource tables, which allow organizations the opportunity to reach out to the families and make them aware of services available, will be provided by KI BOIS, the domestic violence shelter, CREOKS, HALT Project, Health & Wellness Center, Stigler Grade School/Stigler PTO, Choctaw Nation YAB, Homebased Services & Resources, Cherokee Nation Health Services, Stigler Little League Football and Cheer, and others.

The coalition is providing the backpacks and school supplies, with the assistance of a donation from Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative's Operation Round-Up, a community grant from Wal-Mart and the generosity of civic organizations in town, said Alverson.

Story by Anita Reding, Staff reporter. File photo.