BENTON — When Oveta Pledger moved back to Benton 14 years ago, she saw a need to “level the playing field” for the Benton School District.
“I found something that I couldn’t accomplish myself,” Pledger said. “I moved back because my dad had passed away, and this event has given me purpose for being.”
The 14th annual Ralph Bunche Back to School Picnic will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ralph Bunche Park, 1300 S. East St. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place in Cook Field House at Benton High School.
“Our goal is to level the playing field for all the kids in the Benton School District and to provide 1,000 quality backpacks filled with school supplies,” Pledger said. “This year, we have more than 700 that are going to be available for the school district.”
Pledger said that to qualify to receive a backpack, students need to arrive with a parent or guardian and register from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The backpacks will be awarded at 3 p.m.
“We will also provide a free lunch, and there will be over 30 information booths,” Pledger said.
There will also be a water slide and a bounce house, and entertainment will be provided by DJ “Jammin GP.”
“It is an all-day event,” Pledger said. “Home Depot ordered us some kits for the kids to do, and we are giving away a bicycle again this year.”
Last year, more than 700 backpacks were given away.
“We are helping a lot of families [with the] burden [of] the cost of school supplies,” Pledger said.
Sue Shults, who has been involved with the picnic for 10 years and has served on the Ralph Bunch Community Action Committee for eight, is a former middle-school principal, and she said she would see quite a number of students without adequate supplies.
“But we never really had a planned program within the community,” Shults said. “And when Oveta moved back, she saw the same need and began this vision.”
As middle-school principal, Shults would help store and gather the supplies.
“If you have two or three children, school supplies can be a hefty expense,” Shults said. “This is our way of trying to lighten that load.”
Shults said more than 25 churches help provide the supplies, and each church furnishes a particular item.
“Churches are so helpful and responsive,” Shults said, “but if anyone wants to give to the Benton School District, we would welcome any item.”
With the event having lasted for so long, there are some students who formerly received help and have now graduated.
“My joy comes from my Heavenly Father, feeling blessed to be the tool for these kids,” Pledger said. “All the accolades and everything that come my way, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this picnic would have the impact that it has.”
Pledger said she remembers when she worked on the event the first year and having her doubts.
“But as I sat on my porch, I can’t express the joy I had when I looked up to heaven and felt like my father in heaven and my Heavenly Father were smiling down at me for the work I had done,” Pledger said.
“Really, it is about that special feeling you get when you see the smiles on their faces at the picnic,” Shults said, “when we see them grab their backpacks for the first time and how confident they are to start the new school year.
“It is a real blessing.”
Lifeless Wireless will also be on hand Saturday to offer free cellphones for those who qualify. Pledger said applicants must bring a valid ID, as well as a food-stamp card, a Medicaid card or a letter qualifying students for free or reduced-price lunches. The phones will be hooked up to AT&T towers and have a limit of 500 minutes per month to help people conduct business.
“The phones should help them job-search and better themselves or help the kids with whatever,” Pledger said.
Throwback Cuts Barbershop, at 102 W. South St. in Benton, will offer free hair cuts that Sunday, Aug. 7, for those at the picnic on Saturday.
“People will also have a chance to meet our new superintendent [Mike Skelton],” Pledger said. “He will be on hand to speak and introduce himself to everybody.”
Anyone who is interested in donating time, volunteering or being a mentor for Saturday’s picnic can call Pledger at (501) 672-0806. For school-supply donations, call Shults at (501) 317-7601, or for information on having a booth at the picnic, call Linda Smith with the Central Arkansas Development Council at (501) 315-1121.
Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.