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Antonella Hernandez, 5, of Yantis, beams with excitement after looking at the contents of the backpack she got Friday at the Hopkins County CAN Help Back-to-School Fair held at the Civic Center. Antonella will be starting kindergarten soon in Yantis. More than 1,000 backpacks were given out at the event. Staff photo by Don Wallace
Young students and family members were waiting in line in hot temperatures and didn't mind.
The response was overwhelming at Hopkins County CANHelp's 'Backto- School' Fair event Friday.
According to officials, the attendance was 1,511 persons at the event, not counting the volunteers, vendors and exhibitors. The turnout surpassed last year they said. A total of 496 families signed up early for backpacks and 1,075 backpacks were given out to students in the county and nearby areas. Each backpack had supply kits to get kids started when the school year begins soon.
The lines were long for the event with parents and students waiting outside and in the foyer of the Hopkins County Civic Center to get supplies. Free hair cuts and information on health checkups were also available. Booths were set up for face painting and balloon animals by clowns. Several local businesses had displays and gave out material and trinkets.