Back-to-School drives pop up around county

Twins Elise Whitney and Ella (Whitney) Gardner and their mother, Hope Whitney, volunteer at the Mission Tecumseh Back to School Bash, held at the Tecumseh High School W.P. Wood Alumni Center on July 25. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Mission Tecumseh, which is made up of six local churches, offered 500 clear backpacks plus five school supply stations, a prayer station and a craft area at their annual Back to School Bash at the Tecumseh High School W.P. Wood Alumni Center on July 25. They also gave away free hotdogs and watermelon outside. Rev. Anthony LaGrange said they estimate that 750 to 800 people attended the event.

Volunteer Christal Jones adds notebook paper to the backpacks of a mother and daughter during Mission Tecumseh's annual Back to School Bash, held at the Tecumseh High School W.P. Wood Alumni Center on July 25. Mission Tecumseh, which includes six local churches, offered 500 clear backpacks, five school supply stations, a prayer station, craft area and free hotdogs and watermelon. Rev. Anthony LaGrange said they estimate that 750 to 800 people attended the event, Saturday.

Mother, Rachael Caraway, and sister, Audrey Caraway, 4, both of Newalla, help Evelyn Caraway, 2, to add flavoring to her free snow cone from the Sno Shak during the Fifth Annual BancFirst Back to School Bash in McLoud on July 23. In addition to snow cones, BancFirst offered backpacks, filled with school supplies, and free hotdogs. McLoud FFA members volunteered at the event, as they have every year. The Back to School Bash will be held at Tecumseh's BancFirst, July 30, 6:15 - 7:30 pm, and Shawnee on Aug. 6.

Incoming first-grader, Amber Williams, of McLoud, selects a pink backpack, as her brother, incoming fourth-grader, Zander Williams, and mother Jeannene Williams, as well as McLoud FFA volunteers, watch during the Fifth Annual BancFirst Back to School Bash in McLoud.

BancFirst employee Hailley Broga hands incoming third-grader, Penelope Delaney, of McLoud, a purple backpack, as mother Elizabeth Delaney looks on, during the Fifth Annual BancFirst Back to School Bash in McLoud on July 23. In addition to backpacks filled with school supplies, BancFirst offered free hotdogs and snow cones from Sno Shak. McLoud FFA members volunteered at the event, as they have every year. The Back to School Bash will be held at Tecumseh's BancFirst next on July 30, 6:15 - 7:30 pm.

BancFirst employee Devyn Bridges talks with Christyanne Durant, 4, of Harrah, who picks a pink backpack during the Fifth Annual BancFirst Back to School Bash in McLoud on July 23. In addition to backpacks filled with school supplies, BancFirst offered free hotdogs and snow cones from Sno Shak. McLoud FFA members volunteered at the event, as they have every year. The Back to School Bash will be held at Tecumseh's BancFirst next on July 30, 6:15 - 7:30 pm, and at Shawnee's BancFirst on Harrison, Aug. 6.