Brooksville – More rain was in the forecast for Hernando County; however that did not turn away any Brooksville parents to make their way to Jerome Brown Community Center for Operation Backpack. Mike Walker is the City of Brooksville Parks and Recreation Director as well as the Chairman for the Friends of Children. He worked hard along with other volunteers to ensure the success of this event. “There is always a need,” Walker said. Walker explained how this event process worked from fundraisers to dedicated Sponsors that gathered supplies collected for months before the Operation Backpack event. There were 720 backpacks donated this year, making this an overwhelming community success. Now children in need will be ready for school, which starts August 24, 2015.
Walker had been with Brooksville Parks and Recreation for the past eleven years and has seen some great things happen within the community. Having the community work together to bring this event together, improves every year. “It’s a passion that I have,” Walker said. Just as the children and parents stepped through the doors to the Jerome Brown Community Center, they are greeted by Walker, as well as two transportation vehicles from the City of Brooksville; a gleaming white police car and a bright red Fire Truck. “Fundraisers like this build the confidence (for the kids) and it makes it exciting for them to go back to school,” Bernie Durkin said. Durkin’s children attend Eastside Elementary School.
Tables lined the outer rim of the gym, filled with backpacks, paper, pens, and pencils to sneakers. Members of the local businesses greeted the parents and children when they stopped at their table and filled their backpacks with much needed school supplies. Rye Brewer is a representative for Truly Nolan whose business participated in Operation Backpack. “We want to give back to the community, we are happy to be out here and help in any way we can,” he said.
“We love supporting the community and anything we can do to help with our community we are more than happy to do,” said Katheryn Plummer from Monster Transmission who teamed up with Chick –Fil-A raising $1000 for Operation Backpack. Thanks to sponsors like Monster Transmission and Chick-Fil-A, tables were filled with school supplies and over 720 backpacks awaited their new owners. The overall success of this event brought the community together for one important day and gave kids a boost of confidence for the start the school year.
If you missed out last weekend, Spring Hill Operation Backpack will take place at Towne Square Mall (3021 Commercial Way in Spring Hill) on August 15th 10am-3pm. This particular event is organized by Kiwanis Clubs of Spring Hill and Weeki Wachee. Phil LaRossa of the Spring Hill Kiwanis has been dedicated to stuffing 1000 backpacks through numerous car wash fundraisers as well as business sponsorships. Spring Hill Operation Backpack is open to all Hernando County students.