19th Annual Back To School Celebration - EBCAP Will Be Host Site

The 19^th Annual Statewide Back to School Celebration will be held on Saturday, August 18^th, from 10 am – 1 pm, distributing 16,000 backpacks. Rhode Island students are welcome to attend this free event and receive school supplies at any of the distribution sites.

In the East Bay region, East Bay Community Action Program’s (EBCAP) Health Center, located at 6 John H. Chafee Blvd. in Newport, will serve as one of those sites. Other sites include: Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, 291 Broad St., Cumberland; YMCA, 1225 Park Ave., Cranston; Nathanael Greene Middle School, 721 Chalkstone Ave., Providence; Parent Information & Student Registration, 325 Ocean St., Providence; Pawtucket PawSox, McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket; St. James Baptist Church, 340 South Main St., Woonsocket; Thundermist Health Center, 186 Providence St., West Warwick; Achievement First, 370 Hartford Ave., Providence; Veazie Street Elementary School, 211 Veazie St., Providence; Veteran’s Memorial Elementary School, 150 Fuller Ave., Central Falls; and West End Community Center, 109 Bucklin St., Providence.

The major supporters of this year’s event are: Sodexo School Services, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, City of Providence, Providence Public Schools, United Way, AARP of RI, Cox Communications, Amica Companies Foundation, BankRI, City of Central Falls, CollegeBound Saver, CVS Health, Pawtucket Credit Union, Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, and SNAP Outreach.

Each distribution site will host more than fifteen exhibitors who will offer community resource information to all the attendees; additionally each center offered music, raffles, and a cookout.

The Back to School Celebration goals are to build public school pride and enthusiasm for the coming academic and provide helpful start-up school supplies and backpacks to students who attend the event.

Photo: Volunteers at last year's Back to School Celebration are ready to begin giving away backpacks filled with school supplies at East Bay Community Family Health Care, a division of East Bay Community Action Program.