To the Editor:

Thank you to all the fantastic volunteers and community resource providers for braving the heat and coming out to serve the people in our community!

More than 360 people attended the Potsdam Back-to-School Fair on August 21, and 239 bags of school supplies and 89 backpacks were given to local students.

It looks like we had some avid readers in the group because the Potsdam UPS Store, in partnership with the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, distributed over 1,000 books!

Families also took advantage of the Operation Safe Child program offered by the SLC Sheriff's Office. Officers Jones and O’Connell registered 41 children during the event. New outfits, socks, and other items were also available to families at the Back-to-School Fair. Several lucky kids found the vouchers for free haircuts and two free memberships to the North Country Children's Museum during the scavenger hunt.

Representatives from various community organizations were also on hand to provide information on available resources, especially in the areas of health and wellness. Of course, the Frozen Bounce House, Obstacle Course, and carnival games were quite popular with the kids, as well as the ice cream and hot dogs.

The music provided by DJ Double Dutch Event Services helped to create a festive atmosphere, as we sang along or tapped our feet to the music (a few kids even showed off their dance moves)!

We are so grateful for the support of our primary sponsors New Hope Community Church and Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Without their ongoing commitment to the Back-to-School Fair we could not provide this level of service to the community.

Thank you to Renzi’s Food Service for donating the hot dogs, buns, and popsicles, and Stewart’s Shop for donating the ice cream.

Thank you to the following businesses for donating funds, school supplies, or other services: BJ’s Wholesale Club, Kerm’s Styling, Mahoney Auto Mall, North Country Savings Bank, Merriman’s, North Country Children’s Museum, NuMed for Children, Sandstone Realty, St. Lawrence Paper Supply, TJ Toyota, and Today’s Hair Spa & Salon.

To all our supporters and friends, you are making a positive difference in the lives of your neighbors and friends! Thank you for caring and giving to the program.

Laurell Brault
Potsdam Snack Pack
Program Coordinator