Ah, the thrill of opening a fresh box of Crayolas and seeing 24 sharp, gleaming points … putting your name on the cover of a brand-new notebook full of fresh white pages … new stick pens that haven’t yet been chewed on …

New school supplies herald the start of a fresh school year full of promise and excitement. The annual Back to School Festival held at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County makes sure area students have the supplies they need to get off to a good start.

“Without the festival, many children would not have school supplies,” said Donna Barrett, sales and marketing manager for the Cultural Center. “In past years, every child who came went home with something.”

Unfortunately, donations are down and supplies are desperately needed for Saturday’s event. Fortunately, it’s so easy to change that dilemma. Just buy a few needed supplies and drop them off at any participating area location.

Needed supplies are black or
blue pens, 10-packs of No. 2 pencils, dome sharpeners,
12-inch wooden rulers, glue sticks, blunt-tip scissors, 24-packs of crayons, pink wedge erasers, pencil erasers, highlighters, eight-packs of magic markers, 70-sheet spiral notebooks, three-ring binders, lined notebook paper and clear, resealable bags.

Teachers also need copier paper and dry-erase markers.

Drop off supplies by Tuesday to the Englewood/Cape Haze Chamber of Commerce; the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce; the Charlotte Local Education Foundation at the School District Murdock Center, 1445 Education Way, Port Charlotte; BB&T Bank branches in Charlotte County; Charlotte State Bank & Trust; Coastal Chiropractic; the Law Office of Mary Byrski; the Cultural Center of Charlotte County; or Fifth Third Bank. After Tuesday, drop off supplies at the Cultural Center.

Monetary donations also are needed and will be used solely to purchase supplies.

Children must be accompanied by an adult who has identification showing residence in Charlotte County. If the adult doesn’t have proof of an in-county address, the child’s report card will be accepted as proof.

This way, donors know that their donations go to local students. Other counties hold similar events to help their students.

Many organizations, businesses and services also will be at the festival. The Charlotte County Health Department will make appointments for school physicals and immunizations for those without insurance. Shawn and Co. and A Select Salon will provide free student haircuts. Dr. David Klein will provide free eye screenings; and Coastal Chiropractic will offer free spine screenings, and will have tips about how to carry heavy backpacks.

Every county school will have a table to greet students.

The Back to School Festival is sponsored by the Charlotte Local Education Foundation and the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. This is the fifth year the Cultural Center has played host to the event.

It all takes place from 9 a.m.
to noon Saturday at the Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte.