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Many attend Back-to-School Kick-Off & Book Bag Giveaway
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
A surprised look crossed fourth-grader Michael Guerriero’s face when he discovered there was a lot more to his free book bag than what met his eye.
“A ruler, a bunch of pencils and eraser and glue sticks,” the Austintown Intermediate School student said excitedly as he ticked off the main school supplies in his backpack.
Michael and his father, Michael Guerriero, were among those who came to Saturday’s second annual Back-to-School Kick-Off & Book Bag Giveaway at the Covelli Centre on East Front Street.
Nevertheless, father and son assumed they would receive only a backpack, so they were pleasantly taken aback upon seeing the free items inside that the younger Michael received to start his school year.
The event’s three main sponsors were the Youngstown City School District, the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence and NOW Youngstown, a faith-based organization that hosts community rallies and get-togethers in many of the city’s high-crime areas.
An estimated 2,000 book bags were distributed at the free, two-hour gathering, which was open to families of students in kindergarten through grade 12, noted Yvonne Mathis, the school district’s communications director and spokeswoman.
Items included pens and pencils, notebooks, folders, paper, rulers, erasers, highlighters and crayons.
High-school students also received paperback copies of the popular 1962 motivational book “The Cross & the Switchblade” by David Wilkerson. In 1958, the longtime minister founded Teen Challenge, an organization that takes a holistic, Christian-based approach toward helping teens and adults who struggle with substance abuse and addictions.
Despite having enjoyed a summer that consisted of visiting the Cleveland Zoo, attending a family reunion and taking a trip to Waldameer Park & Water World in Erie, Pa., Michael is excited about returning to school. The two subjects he’s looking forward to the most are math and science, he said.
Also happy to begin his school year with free supplies was Michael’s 6-year-old brother, Dominic Guerriero, an Austintown Elementary School first-grader.
“Dude, high five,” the boys’ father said to Michael after having seen his son’s school supplies. “This is tremendous.”
The elder Michael Guerriero is a forklift operator for Comprehensive Logistics of Youngstown and came with his wife, Jess Guerriero. He added that he hopes to see improved relations between students and teachers, as well as more staff support for teachers.
Besides providing necessary school items free of charge to get students’ off to a good start, the giveaway was to encourage parents to be proactive in their children’s education throughout the school year, noted Brenda Kimble, the Youngstown Board of Education president.
“We hope parents will be part of the classroom and will be working with teachers to help more kids move forward with their education,” Kimble said, adding that the event also was to promote greater friendships and community connections.
One of those who plans to do just that is Tiffany Oliver, who came with her son, Quinton Watson, 6, and 7-year-old daughter, Ke’Asha Watson, both of whom attend Taft Elementary School.
“I will help them with their homework and to accomplish their goals,” said Oliver, who is working toward earning an associate degree at Eastern Gateway Community College in fashion design.
Earlier this summer, the three visited a relative in Los Angeles, said Oliver, who added that she was happy the event also allowed many people in the community to pull together.
Providing part of the entertainment was the Williamson Elementary School gospel choir. Also on hand was Stanley “Stan the Man” Jones, a disc jockey on Star 94.7 and WGFT-AM 1330, local rhythm-and-blues stations.
In addition, the giveaway offered information on healthful eating habits, fighting neighborhood blight, ways to reduce crime, after-school and Head Start programs and offerings from the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
Additional information included fliers on Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past’s fifth annual Nonviolence Parade & Rally, which kicks off at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 near the Irene L. Ward Youngstown Board of Education Building, 20 W. Wood St., downtown.