Wicomico County organizations present inaugural Fresh Start event Sunday

Free transportation offered from eight locations

SALISBURY, Md. – Families can get ready for the upcoming school year at Fresh Start: A Wicomico County Community Back-to-School Event.

This free event is a collaborative effort between numerous Wicomico County organizations and will be held this Sunday, Aug. 26, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.

Children in need entering kindergarten and up will receive a free backpack with several essential school supplies. Free haircuts, free hot dogs and fun activities will be available as well. The event is first come, first served.

Families will be able to learn about community programming, health and more. There will be drawings for prizes also.

“We are thrilled with the community support that is coming together to put on the first Fresh Start community back-to-school event at the Civic Center,” said James Simmons, recreation superintendent for Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism. “It is perfect timing for our community organizations to come together to make a deeper impact in the area by working together for the common goal of setting up our youth for success.”

Partners for this event are listed below:

· Extraordinary League of Gentlemen
· Rotary Club of Salisbury
· Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club
· Rotary Club of Wicomico County
· Salisbury Optimist Club
· Salisbury Jaycees
· Salisbury Elks
· Dstinct Dsigns Barbershop
· Deadstock
· Peninsula Regional Medical Center
· Donnie Williams Foundation
· Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
· Wicomico County Board of Education
· Wicomico Public Libraries
· Wicomico County Health Department
· Lions Clubs of Wicomico County
· Wicomico County Friends of Recreation & Parks
· Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism

There will be transportation offered from eight locations in Wicomico County. Children must be accompanied by an adult to ride the bus. Shore Transit will be providing transportation on a constant loop to and from the Civic Center from Salisbury Middle School, North Salisbury Elementary School, Pemberton Elementary School and Pinehurst Elementary School, with the first pickup at the school at 11:30 a.m. and the last pickup from the Civic Center at 4:30 p.m.

Robert and Vicki Smith, Wicomico County Board of Education contractors, will provide transportation to and from the Civic Center from Delmar Elementary School, Westside Intermediate School, Fruitland Intermediate School and Pittsville Elementary & Middle School. There will be two shifts from each of these schools. The first pickup will be at 11:30 a.m., with families returning at 1:30 p.m. For the second pickup, these times, respectively, are 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“Our goal in the first year is substantial – we plan to provide 4,000 backpacks with school supplies, haircuts, access to important community resources and so much more,” Simmons said. “This is truly an event for the community put on by the community.”

Anyone interested in making donations to this event can contact Simmons at 410-548-4900 x114 orjsimmons@wicomicocounty.org.

For additional information about the event, please contact Derek Jarmon at 410-548-4900 x113 ordjarmon@wicomicocounty.org, or visit www.bit.ly/FreshStartWicomico.