GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Hundreds of families filled Green Bay First Church on Sunday morning for the eighth annual Back to School Bash, a community event aimed at giving students a fresh start to the school year.
The church handed out more than 800 backpacks stuffed with school supplies, along with free groceries, haircuts, and meals. Outside, kids enjoyed bounce houses, carnival games, and even a dunk tank while parents connected with volunteers. Organizers say the goal is to ease the burden for families while making sure every student heads to class prepared.
“This is probably our largest event so far,” said Amber Coplen, Administrative Assistant at Green Bay First. “We give backpacks away full of school supplies and we have free haircuts outside. Just a day of fun and free for families to prepare for the upcoming school year.”
Coplen, who is also a foster parent, said the day carries personal meaning. “To see their faces light up, it’s one of my favorite things,” she explained. “I’m actually a foster mom too so my kids are going to get a brand new book bag for the first time ever, so it means so much to me.”
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She added that many of the volunteers know firsthand what it’s like to struggle and simply want to give back. “We know that times are hard. We know that people are struggling and most of us volunteers have come from that place,” Coplen said. “We struggled at some point and someone came and helped us. All we want to do is the same for others by giving back to our community in any way that we can.”
For parents like Darrick Sechrst, the event is more than just helpful—it’s essential. “Me and my wife, we do okay but we are still struggling and for them to help us in the community is a godsend, it’s a blessing,” Sechrst said.
The Back to School Bash continues to grow each year, with organizers saying they plan to keep finding new ways to support families across Northeast Wisconsin.
