Hartford Public School students are gearing up for the new school year with its annual Back to School Celebration.
On Tuesday, August 19, families came together at Dunkin’ Park for a high-energy day filled with giveaways, activities and information about community resources.
Like most years, News 8 saw a line wrapped around Dunkin’ Park, buzzing with energy and anticipation. For parents like Cordelia Miller, who has been coming to the event for several years, the patience pays off.
“I think it’s a great thing to get kids into the community,” she said.
Once through the gate, families are greeted with everything from backpacks to pencils, notebooks, and more. It’s a one-stop shop for classroom essentials, completely free of charge.
Hartford’s new superintendent, Dr. Andrae Townsel, says the items are crucial to children’s learning.
“We want them to leave engaged citizens, empowered learners, critical thinkers, even in a world of artificial intelligence,” he told News 8.
Thanks to community donors, the school district had about 6,000 backpacks to give away.
Sarah Adanti with The Village for Families & Children says the event helps lighten the financial load on families dealing with a host of expenses. “There’s so many different people struggling right now, and every family has to make the decision to buy food, diapers, medicine and a backpack, which creates a lot of chaos in their family,” she said.
It’s not just about supplies; parents and students are also walking away with vital information on after-school programs, mental health resources, and community support.
