Haircuts, Shoes, Backpacks Part Of Bonanza

LINCOLN — From kindergarten to middle school and high school, students with their parents and grandparents filled the Community Center on Aug. 7 at the Back To School Bonanza.

Many students received free hair cuts from stylists who volunteer each year at the Bonanza. Cheryl Price with the Kut Above salon and Sherri Umberson with the Hair Shoppe were busy during the three-hour event.

“I’ve done this every year,” Price said.

Umberson said she has also volunteered each year to help students look their best when starting school.

Chelsea Miller was on hand to give out information on the 7Hill Go7 Outreach to explain the program, which helps with transitional housing, food and other items for families in need.

Many children and parents stopped by the Washington County Sheriff ’s Office’s photo identification booth.

Pam Cross, who was there with her grandchildren, said she wanted her grandchildren to have photo identification cards.

“Their mom is a single mom and I think this will help protect them,” Cross said.

Deputies Mike Holcroft, Barbara Stedham and Laura Pretty helped get children’s weight, height, other infor- mation and printed an I.D. card out on the spot.

Some of the children were ready to go back to school but others were not.

“It takes up time and I’m not ready for school to start,” Sharon Bieber, 10, a fifth grader, said.

“I’m ready for it,” six-yearold Trevor Mobley said.

Many volunteers helped with the Bonanza such as Bonnie Wood, a member of Central United Methodist Church.

Wood helped children pick out a new backpack. A few children were not sure what color to pick as a long table was filled with a variety of colors. Alexia Houghton, 9, looked over all the backpacks and finally chose a blue one.

Gary Lunsford, pastor of Central United Methodist Church, wasn’t sure there were as many attending the Bonanza as the year before.

“It just seems like there isn’t as many here this year,” Lunsford said about an hour into the event. “Of course, there’s still time for more to show up.”

And there were more families coming in as he expressed his concern.

Central United Methodist Church sponsors the Lincoln Back To School Bonanza each year. Lunsford said a church in Morrow had helped this year and the Lincoln Kiwanis Club donated $ 371 to the event. Volunteers from the church and the high school helped at this year’s event.

PHOTOS BY PAT HARRIS ENTERPRISE-LEADER Brooklyn Cross, 3, was busy drawing and coloring pictures during the Lincoln Back To School Bonanza held Aug. 7 at the Community Center. Brooklyn was there with her family who were getting the older children ready for school.

Jonathan Bieber, 8, was getting a haircut during the Lincoln Back To School Bonanza. Sherri Umberson with the Hair Shoppe was cutting the third-grader’s hair. Umberson said she had participated each year, giving free haircuts to school children.

Washington County Sheriff Deputies Mike Holcroft, left, Barbara Stedham and Laura Pretty helped parents and grandparents get a photo ID for their child. One grandmother, Pam Cross, said it was a good idea for her grandchildren to get identity cards...

Macenzie Crites was waiting with a new backpack in hand while her sister, Macayla, got a haircut. Macenzie chose not to have her hair cut.

Shasta Williams, a volunteer at the Back To School Bonanza at the Community Center in Lincoln was busy helping a line of children of all ages find a new pair of shoes for school.

Alexia Houghton, 9, wasn’t sure which color backpack she wanted as her grandmother, Jessica Mink, and bonanza volunteer, Bonnie Wood, looked on. Finally, she chose a blue one.

Sharon Bieber, 10, left, and Trevor Mobley, 6, were not on the same page when it came to being ready to go back to school. As she colored on some art pages, Sharon said, “I”m not ready for school to start.” Trevor said he was ready to go back to...

Sue Cluck, left, and Jamie Curtis, were giving away free toothpaste and toothbrushes at last week’s bonanza. They also were setting up appointments with Dr. Daniel Beavers for a back to school checkup.