Helena community members host back to school supply rally

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala (WBMA) — People in the community of Helena are stepping up to make sure students have the tools for schools needed during these tough times.

Deidre Mathis Bogues has several children in the Shelby County School System.

She said times have been hard and a back to school rally like Sunday's has been a blessing.

“Some of them have a long list of supplies that they need for school and, so by the time you go and try to get everything on the list and you still got to get things to pay all the bills for the household, you may not have enough, so this is a big help for us parents,” said Bogues.

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Arron Lewis is the founder and has hosted the event for the past five years.

He said it was on his heart to do something and help provide financial relief even before the pandemic.

“It’s not only for the students but for the parents too, to give them a financial relief, at least they know when school starts, they don’t have to worry about their kids supplies at least for the first month or first 9 weeks of school,” said Lewis.

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Bogues said making family decisions has been tough since March.

She said she’s happy to at least see communities coming together and fellowship.

“Everything just came on us parents all at once since March. You have the food to think about, you have the school supplies to think about now and, you have if you feel comfortable sending your child back to school,” said Bogues.