It was the 17th annual Back to School Bash and Backpack Giveaway on Friday presented by the Johnson Housing Foundation in partnership with the Center for Family Development and with fundings by the Healing Trust Foundation. It’s an event that began with Mamie Johnson, head of the Summer Feed Program, who through her outreach has provided over 50,000 meals and 1,000 backpacks each yearto the Shelbyville community.“I’m living my dream,” she said...
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It was the 17th annual Back to School Bash and Backpack Giveaway on Friday presented by the Johnson Housing Foundation in partnership with the Center for Family Development and with fundings by the Healing Trust Foundation.
It’s an event that began with Mamie Johnson, head of the Summer Feed Program, who through her outreach has provided over 50,000 meals and 1,000 backpacks each yearto the Shelbyville community.“I’m living my dream,” she said.
The event featured hot dogs, free give-a-ways, awards, and even a “splash” from the Shelbyville Fire Department who got to spray some of the kids with their fire hose to cool off.
Several guest speakers—including Carol Jean from the Shelbyville Police Department; Council member Marilyn Ewing; and Bonnie Price (father of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price) representing the Center for Family Development—were present to give encouraging talks to the kids. Mamie Johnson’s granddaughter Ashley Johnson, PhD, program officer from the Kresge Foundations, served as master of ceremonies. She encouraged to kids to work hard, take advantage of opportunities, and not be afraid to fail.
Johnson praised programs like this, saying they encourage kids further into their education, which helps them to succeed to other opportunities.
