Second Story hosts back-to-school event in Culmore

Culmore kids are ready for the first day of school, thanks to a backpack giveaway event at the Culmore Family Resource Center in Bailey’s Crossroads on Aug. 12.

Second Story, the nonprofit that manages the Opportunity Neighborhoods (ON) initiative for the Crossroads area, handed out 300 backpacks full of school supplies.

SevaTruck provided lunch. There was also face painting and balloon animals for the kids and information about community resources for parents.

The back-to-school event was aimed at “supporting our community so kids have the resources they need to start school ready to learn,” said Soraya Borja of Second Story. School starts Aug. 19.

The 10 community ambassadors that work with the ON-Bailey’s initiative helped plan the back-to-school event.

“The ambassadors are the voice of the community,” Borja said. They advise Second Story about Culmore residents’ concerns, help with the weekly food distributions, help new residents learn about local resources, and invite people to community discussions and financial literacy training hosted by Second Story.  

Several agencies and nonprofits had tables displaying information for Culmore residents, including Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, the county’s Health Department, HACAN, Neighborhood Health, the Inova Healthy Plate Club, Blessi Home Health, and the Legal Aid Justice Center.

The Park Authority brought the Wonder Wagon, a mobile unit that brings nature displays to communities. The Wonder Wagon will be at the Taste of Annandale on Sept. 21.