Back-to-school event planned

Organization, church to help families prepare for school year

A local church and organization is planning a back-to-school event in Painesville to help families prepare for the upcoming school year.

Team Evolution United and Painesville First Church of Christ will host ‘Never Too Cool for Back to School’ at 422 Mentor Ave. from 3 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 13.

The event is open to the public and will feature games, music and free school supplies. Painesville Schools Superintendent Josh Englehart and Athletic Director Marwin Walling will also speak at the event.

“We just wanted a way to help kids be prepared for the new school year,” said Adam Johnson, who is the CEO of Team Evolution United. “I come from a family of 14 kids, so I understand the need.”

Johnson is also a 2018 Lake Erie College graduate. He

recently coached the TEU eighth-grade basketball team, who won a U.S. Amateur national basketball tournament in Gainesville, Fla. TEU is a youth leadership and sports organization that also held a football and cheerleading skills clinic for area youth.

The back-to-school celebration is just another way that Johnson is giving back to the community.

TEU Coordinator Brianna Jones also has ties to the Painesville community, as she was the 2013 Harvey High School valedictorian.

Jones said they are counting on community support to help make the event a success.

“We’d like to give away at least 100 free backpacks with supplies,” she said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us collecting donations to reach our goal.”

The group is currently collecting donations for the drive.

“We are accepting uniform clothes, backpacks with supplies, gift cards, raffle items and cash donations,” she said. “We’re also working to have area barbers offer haircuts for $5.”

Items can be donated by calling Jones at 440-4631356 or Johnson at 239440-5573.