The Newnan Times-Herald, GA
Masonic Groups Hold Back-To-School Celebration For Area Youngsters
by WES MAYER
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Elementary school children receive goody bags from Masonic volunteers.
A celebration was thrown for Newnan schoolchildren Saturday to raise their excitement and spirit for the new school year.
The Newnan Prince Hall 'family' brought six Masonic groups together to create the large celebration in the park across Spring Street from the Newnan Lodge.
The event was sponsored by the John L. Martin Consistory 367A and the Annie B. Gibbons Assembly 367A, The Order of the Golden Circle. Four other groups, Newnan Lodge No. 299, Newnan Chapter No. 483, Al-Karim Temple No. 242 and Al-Karim Court No. 219, assisted in throwing the party. The groups prepared for a total of 500 kids and adults, and nearly reached that number.
The celebration had free lunch and snacks for everyone, a video game truck for kids, a live DJ and music, clowns, face painting and more. The Newnan Fire Department made an appearance with a fire truck, the American Red Cross brought a mobile blood drive bus, and groups set up a free voter registration booth for adults.
Kids could also register to receive a free goody bag filled with school supplies. The bags contained notebooks, folders, pens and pencils, scissors, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils and more, all paid for by the celebration's sponsors.
By the end of the day, more than 200 kids in elementary school and junior high school received bags of free supplies.
This was the first time the Newnan area Masonic organizations have collaborated with each other to throw this kind of celebration, and it was their way of showing the community they are here to help.
https://www.times-herald.com/local/20130814-back-2-school-celebration-w2-pix/
