GAINESVILLE, TX – With school starting in just a few weeks, North Texas Medical Center and Valley Creek Church will once again team up for a special Back to School Wellness Event to make sure every child has what they need to be successful and healthy in the upcoming school year.
And this year, an emphasis on mental health will also be a key focus with help from the Cooke County LOSS team.
The Back to School Wellness Event is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29 from 5-7 p.m., at the Gainesville High School Cafeteria and Gymnasium. It will feature free school supplies and backpacks (while supplies last) and information from local organizations and businesses that can help a child start the school year healthy and happy. There will also be other free giveaways from participating vendors. It is open to all area school children and their parents.
More than 20 local organizations are scheduled to have booths at the event, which will include a special area with a “We’ve Got Your Back” theme to coincide with the backpack giveaway. This area will focus on a child’s mental health.
NTMC began the annual event in 2014 at the Boys and Girls Club of Cooke County. Over the last decade, thousands of area children have received free school supplies and have taken advantage of the resources provided to be successful in their education.
“NTMC is happy to sponsor the Back to School event for area students,” NTMC CEO Tom Sledge said. “We love being able to support our community by helping families prepare for the upcoming school year.”
Again this year, Valley Creek Church will be handing out backpacks with age-specific school supplies to the first 500 children.
The “We’ve Got Your Back” rally is dedicated to creating a caring and supportive environment for children and their parents to embrace the importance of mental and emotional self-care by fostering a sense of community and understanding, said organizer Johnna Green, founder of the Cooke County LOSS team.
“Together, we can humanize mental health and foster conversations that encourage our parents and children to take care of their minds and emotions,” Green said.
Special guests will include members of the Gainesville Police Department, the NTMC Emergency Department, Cooke County United Way, the Community HOPE Team and First United Bank, along with professional gamer Cooper White and DJ Katie Dieter. Through interactive activities, they will be sharing personal coping techniques and tools that can help with mental and emotional self-care.
Those that attend the event can also get information on community assistance programs, childcare programs, mentoring programs, youth programs, healthy snacks and lunches, fitness, church programs and much more. In addition to NTMC, Valley Creek Church and the Cooke County LOSS team, other vendors expected to attend include Boys and Girls Club of Cooke County, VISTO, Gainesville ISD, North Central Texas College, Abigail’s Arms, Workforce Solutions Texoma, Cub Scouts, North Texas Children’s Dentistry, Texoma Community Center, Department of Family and Protective Services, Cook Children’s Child Safety and Injury Prevention Team, Moncrief Cancer Institute, Texas Star/Health Steps Program, and ABBA Women’s Center.
There is no charge to attend the Back to School Wellness event. You are asked to enter the Gainesville High School campus from FM 1306.
