Woodland Public Schools sixth annual Back to School Bash

WOODLAND — Hundreds of Woodland students received free backpacks filled with school supplies at Woodland Public Schools’ sixth annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 20.

This year marked the return of indoor activities as COVID restrictions have been lifted. Hundreds of families turned up for free backpacks, school supplies, activities like a bounce house, raffles, and a free meal of hamburgers and hot dogs prepared by Woodland’s dedicated food services staff.

Gabrielle “Gabby” Meador, Woodland Public School’s coordinator for its Family and Community Resource Center, organized this year’s Back to School Bash by lining up donors and volunteers and organizing the event.

In addition to free backpacks filled with school supplies for all students, every attendee also had the opportunity to enter a free raffle for door prizes provided by many businesses in and around the Woodland area. The key to the event’s success lies in teamwork, collaboration, and organization.

“The return to the full-fledged event thanks to the lifting of pandemic restrictions was truly exciting,” Meador said. “Watching students and families having fun and exploring the various resources on-hand makes all the work so satisfying!”

In order to achieve its goals, the resource center relies on the support of local businesses and community organizations.

“We couldn’t offer our programs without the generous and ongoing support from our outstanding local organizations and community members,” Meador said. “The Woodland community maintains a tradition of rallying around helping those among us in need.”