MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Marshall County students and their families will have the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming school year as the 26th annual Marshall County Back-to-School Fun Fair returns on Wednesday at a new location.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the John Marshall Fieldhouse after relocating from its longtime home at the former West Virginia Penitentiary.
Open to Marshall County students from preschool through 12th grade, the event is designed to help families prepare for the first day of school while connecting them with community resources. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate.
Organizers expect more than 1,000 students to attend this year’s event.
Students who attend will receive a free backpack filled with school supplies, along with access to free haircuts, health screenings and hygiene items. Nearly 40 community organizations are also expected to be on hand to provide information and services for families.
Marshall County Schools Parent Educator Suzie Baker said the event is intended to ensure every student begins the school year feeling supported.
Baker said volunteers have spent the past several days organizing supplies and preparing the Fieldhouse for the annual event.
Families do not need to present identification when they arrive. Organizers will verify students using a countywide enrollment roster before distributing supplies and directing families through the event.
The move to the John Marshall Fieldhouse also creates new opportunities this year, including allowing students and parents to meet their school bus drivers before classes begin.
Organizers say the annual event continues its mission of removing barriers for students and helping families start the school year with the supplies, services and support they need.
