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The District A Back 2 School Supply Drive-thru giveaway on Saturday August 07th, 2021 was once again a great success in assisting the children and their parents from around the city and parish with supplies on this year, to say the least, in that over 300 book bags, filled with face masks, hand wipes/sanitizer, gloves, sunscreen, tablets (depending on grade 1, 3, or 5 subject), glue sticks, pens, pencils, ruler, Pencil bags, color crayons, color pencils, Activity book, hot pink folders, and $50.00 Vooks book gift cards. Parents received Covid 19 kits.

Thank you to Dr. Rev. Raymond E. Mims, Sr. in providing the venue to pick up supplies at The Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church; Marilyn Lott, Administrator providing assistance In the initial set up; The Bogalusa Police Department Officers Knight, Tervalon, and Johnson in arranging periodic patrol during the event, and the Bogalusa Daily News (Mr. Schuver), Mt Hermon News (Mr. Miller), WBOX (Rev. Brown) in publishing the community announcement.

Also thanks to Thomas Kates and Larry Brown in sponsoring morning refreshments; Andrette Rameriz in transporting ice; TD Kates in supplying Trailer Load Up; and Gloria Kates In providing book bags, school supplies, and morning refreshments.

And to no avail we would not have been successful without our Volunteers and supporters: Load up crew: Larry Brown. Anthony Laurent, Gloria Kates, Regina Powell, and Pat Rhodes. Set up crew: Larry Brown. Anthony Laurent, Gloria Kates, Regina Powell, Pat Rhodes, and Stephanie Yarbrough. School supply distributors: Larry Brown. Ruthie King , Anthony Laurent, Gloria Kates, Regina Powell, Pat Rhodes, and Stephanie Yarbrough. Photographers and video media: Ruthie King.

Again, a heartfelt thanks to all parents/designees who participated. This project is a continued Back to School supply giveaway initiated since my tenure as Councilwoman each year, but on a much larger scale thanks to this joint effort of United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Rural Health Behavior, Minority Health Access, and Sponsor Councilwoman Gloria Kates. To God be the Glory. Best Regards and Everyone please stay safe.

This article was written by Gloria Kates, who is the Bogalusa City Council member for District A.