Wendell Scott, 13 (left); Alexis Powell, 14; Lakesha Robertson, 13; Sydney London, 11; and Katherine Lawrence, 10; show off their new school supplies they received from North Las Vegas police and The Village Church. Moms Marbes Render and Linda Robertson (back) also enjoyed the free event.
Monday, Aug. 17, 2009 | 1:59 a.m.
Beyond the Sun
About 1,200 children in North Las Vegas gearing up for the start of school will have fresh supplies because of the North Las Vegas Police Department and The Village Church.
Police and the congregation handed out new backpacks filled with pencils, paper, scissors and other classroom necessities to underprivileged elementary school students Sunday as part of an annual back-to-school event at Hartke Park, 1900 E. Tonopah Ave.
This is the fourth year the police department has been involved in the event, which started seven years ago, said organizer Officer John Cargile.
“We fill each backpack with all that stuff and then at the park we give them snow cones and cotton candy and jumpers and hot dogs and all that good stuff,” he said. “It’s just kind of a fun day at the park.”
Many of the children were identified with help from the Clark County School District but some were part of Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth, an organization that finds foster homes for children with special needs.
The event has grown from supplying 250 kids to nearly 1,200 this year, Cargile said.
The day is about fun and games and is just as enjoyable for the officers as it is for the youth, Cargile said.
“The kids get to see officers in a different light. They’re not out there to enforce rules or take someone to jail,” he said. “It’s kind of a fun atmosphere.
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