BRIGHAM COLUMN: Get free school supplies this weekend

The Mayor's Office for Children, Youth and Families is presenting the 10th annual First Day of School Festival this Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at Liberty Square downtown (near the South Carolina Aquarium).

Last year, more than 10,000 parents, children, teachers and volunteers attended the event. They enjoyed everything for free: entertainment, school supplies, the aquarium, a boat ride and food.

Jacquie Kennedy, executive director of the city department, says this event continues to get bigger and better, and the main focus continues to be on healthy lifestyles.

“Every year we try to build and expand and enhance a greater variety of food choices: serving healthy food and snacks,” she says. “This year we have even more healthy food vendors, chefs doing demos ... lots of kids involved in the process, too.”

And they couldn't do it without community support, she says.

Approximately 157 businesses on the Mayor's Honor Roll list participated last year.

Honor Roll partners are local businesses and organizations that encourage employees to attend the First Day Festival, support employees taking their children to school by giving them time off and commit to support education throughout the year by allowing employees time to participate or volunteer at their child's school.

The First Day Festival is part of the First Day of School Initiative, a national campaign to generate widespread community support for schools. The initiative encourages parents to take their child to school on the first day of school. Employers are encouraged to support families and students by allowing employees time off — paid, unpaid or flextime — to participate in activities with their children at school.

As many of you may know, I'm also the editor of Lowcountry Parent magazine, and I'll be there with our cover kid contestants who modeled for the Charleston County School District's Vision 2016 initiative earlier this summer.

For more information about the strategic plan and to read some of the kids' bios, visit www.vision2016.org.

Email Shannon Brigham at charlestonsavvyshopper@postandcourier.com.