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Thousands of families started the 2025-26 school year off with free backpacks, school supplies, shoes, haircuts, eye exams and glasses, and more, thanks to the collaboration of community partners.
Thanks to the generosity of several churches, businesses, organizations, and community members, the Back-to-BOLD Event at Apalachee High School on July 25, 2025, provided:
- 2,500 free backpacks filled with school supplies
- 260 free haircuts for children
- 1,100 free shoes for children
- 1,040 free children’s books
- 112 free vision screenings & 60 free prescription eyeglasses
- 40 vaccines for middle and high school students
- 341 families with health and health plan information
- 200 families with access to the mobile library
- Access to School Bus & Nutrition Information & Assistance
- Access to Free Mental Health Resources
Here's the list of incredible partners who made it possible!
| Partner | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Barrow County Sheriff’s Office |
Free haircuts |
| 52 West Salon |
Free Haircuts; Free Back Massages |
| Birch Salon |
Free haircuts |
| Byron Barbershop |
Free haircuts |
| Razor’s Edge Barber Shop |
Free haircuts |
| Sonder Hair Studio |
Free haircuts |
| Unique Cuts Atlanta | Free haircuts |
| Alex Ward | DJ for BCSO-coordinated Haircuts |
| Bethlehem Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies; Parking Lot Team |
| Winder First United Methodist Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| River Hills Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Nazareth United Methodist Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Chapel Christian Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Union Grove Baptist Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Bethlehem First United Methodist Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Barrow Community Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| New Emmanuel Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Union Baptist Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Midway United Methodist Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| St. Anthony’s Episcopal Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Chestnut Mountain Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Stoney Creek Worship Center |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Restoration Church |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| First Christian Church | Backpacks with School Supplies |
| First Presbyterian Church | Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
ArtsNOW |
540 New Children's Books |
|
Cable East Inc. |
1,500 Bottles of Water; Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Myles Singleton Foundation |
Backpacks |
|
Bank OZK |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Akins Ford |
Backpacks with School Supplies; Event Funding; Volunteer Meals |
|
Barrow County Farm Bureau |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Medlink Winder |
Health information; School Supplies |
|
Walmart |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Peach State Health Plan |
Event Support; Health Information |
|
Shoes That Fit |
Contributed to 1,000 pairs of new sneakers |
|
Centene Foundation |
Event Support |
| Centene Corporation | Event Support |
| Centene Vision Van | 112 Free Vision Screenings & 60 Free Prescription Eyeglasses |
|
Project AWARE |
Mental Health Resources |
|
Uline |
Rolling Carts to help move Backpacks |
| Barrow County Jail | Rolling Carts to help move Backpacks |
|
Rotary Club of Winder |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Barrow Area Rotary Club |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
| The Georgia Club Foundation | Event Support |
|
Barrow County Health Department |
40 Immunizations; 52 Checks for updated Vaccine Information |
|
EVE Women’s Ministry |
60+ Free Pairs of Sneakers |
|
Piedmont Regional Library System - Mobile Library |
200+ families visited PuRL (Pop-up Rolling Library) to get Books & Free Library Cards |
|
Barrow Literacy Partnership |
Gave out 1,040 Free & New Children's Books (includes ArtsNOW books) |
|
New Path 1010 |
Backpacks with School Supplies; Volunteer |
| Rollins Gives |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
Northwest Exterminating |
Backpacks with School Supplies |
|
With Honor LLC |
Event Support |
|
Swing For A Cause |
Event Support |
|
Kate’s Club |
Mental Health Resources |
|
BCSS Transportation |
School Bus Tours; Activity Buses for Volunteers; Route Information |
| BCSS Nutrition | Free & Reduced Meal Information |
| AHS Custodial Team | Event Support |
| BCSS Maintenance | Event Support |
| BCSS IT Department | Event Support |
|
Eugene & Dorothy Thomas |
Event Support |
|
Dr. Ken & Susan Greene |
Event Support |
| Ted Smith & Lewis Petree | Event Support |
| BCSS FFA Teachers & Students | Packed Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Farm Bureau |
Packed Backpacks with School Supplies |
| Myles Singleton Foundation |
Packed Backpacks with School Supplies |
Special Thank You to the Volunteers
Thank you to our hundreds of individual volunteers, churches, and those from organizations such as the Barrow County Sheriff's Office, Bethlehem Church, Change for CHEE, Rotary Club of Winder, and many Barrow County School System employees. This event was made possible because of your considerate efforts.