Sedalia students gear up for classes at back-to-school fair

Matthew Mace may be missing his front teeth, but that didn’t stop him from being excited about snagging a new toothbrush at the back-to-school fair Tuesday afternoon.

Matthew, 6, also left with several pencils, pens, hand sanitizer, a bag and stickers. But his favorite item collected during the fair was a small, soft football.
“I like football,” he said.

Matthew was one of 270 local school-aged children who attended the 12th annual event with their parents at Convention Hall in Liberty Park.

The back-to-school fair is sponsored by the Missouri Valley Community Action Agency, a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides a variety of services and programs to help families move from poverty to self-reliance.

Tina Boggess, MVCAA intake specialist, said Tuesday’s fair gave families an opportunity to receive information on health and education services available to them.

“Everything here benefits families,” Boggess said.

Boggess said 110 families registered to attend.

About a dozen vendors had tables set up in Convention Hall with pamphlets and give-aways.

Taralyn Cook, Walmart vision center manager, said she has been attending the fair for three years providing information on eye screenings. Cook offered free eye screenings and coupons for eye exams at her table. She also explained to parents the Missouri law that states that all students entering kindergarten and first grade must have an eye exam on file with the school.

“A lot of people don’t know about that law,” Cook said.

The final table in the circle of vendors was the biggest draw for the event. Boggess presented each family with a $15 dollar gift card to buy shoes at Payless Shoe Source. The store also is offering an additional 10 percent off to gift card holders.

Boggess said a $5,000 grant enabled MVCAA to purchase enough gift cards to buy 408 pairs of shoes. Boggess said gift cards are still available to families who meet income qualifications.

“We want to focus on schools and social workers,” Boggess said. “They see these kids every day, and they know which kids need shoes.”

Tami Fox, Matthew’s mother, said she was thankful for the back-to-school fair because she has an 11-year-old autistic daughter and is unable to work because of nerve damage in her hands.

“This is great,” Fox said. “Shoes takes a major load off my mind.”

Contact Boggess by calling 886-7476 or at 1415 S. Odell Ave. in Marshall for information on Payless Shoe Source gift cards.