Remember the first day of school every year and
all the new stuff? The crayons, notebooks and fat, easy-grasp
pencils for the little kids and the skinny grown-up pencils for the
"big" kids in like, second-grade.
What an exciting start to the school year!
Glades General Hospital, the Palm Beach County
Health Care District, Florida KidCare and Healthy Communities Access
Project want to make sure that children in the Glades have
everything they need for a successful start to the next school year.
Money and school supplies are needed for Back to
School, an event scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Aug. 2 in the cafeteria of
Glades General Hospital, 1201 S. Main St., Belle Glade. The event is
planned for children in kindergarten through fifth-grade,
accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Throughout this month, Glades General Hospital
will accept donations from organizations, businesses and
individuals. Financial contributions, book bags and school supplies
may be dropped off at the hospital or pickup can be arranged.
When they
enter the cafeteria, children will receive a "report card" and go
through a series of educational stations where they'll learn about
hand washing, preventing head lice, being fingerprinted and other
safety and hygiene issues.
After attending all the "classes," they will enjoy
an ice cream sundae, donated by Cheney Brothers.
Meanwhile, parents and guardians will be in the
cafeteria meeting their children's school nurse and behavioral
health professional, and receiving information in English, Spanish
and Creole about health care coverage through Florida KidCare.
"In addition to school supplies, we want to make
sure our children are healthy and ready to learn," says Terri
Calsetta, director of patient and public relations for Glades
General Hospital.
At the end of the visit, each child in
kindergarten through fifth-grade will receive a bookbag of school
supplies.
"The Glades community is phenomenal in coming
together to help our own," says Calsetta. "I have had the privilege
of working in this community for eight years," says Calsetta. "I
know first-hand about its caring hearts and generous spirits."
Calsetta says the goal of the first annual Back to
School event is to help at least 200 students.
For information, call Calsetta at Glades General
Hospital, (561) 996-6571 Ext. 444.
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