First-Ever Back to School Bonanza: A Community Celebration
On Saturday, Children’s Law Center (CLC) joined community partners in Liberty Plaza, downtown Winston-Salem, for the Back to School Bonanza. This event united families with children focused local resources. It was about supporting families, fostering connections, and building community.
The Bonanza was the vision of Leah Powell, Legal Assistant for CLC’s Education Advocacy Program (EAP), who worked alongside Hayley Lampkin-Blyth, EAP Director, and the rest of the team at CLC, to bring it to life. The event had two key goals: to provide a fun and engaging event for children and families; and to give families needed school supplies they might otherwise not have access to.
The Bonanza offered a variety of fun activities for families to enjoy. Lawn games, arts and crafts, and live music from a local DJ created a festive and welcoming atmosphere. Local businesses, Cam’s Coffee Co. and Dream Kreams, were on hand serving up coffee and ice cream that kept both children and adults energized through the afternoon. Every child that visited each of the event’s community resource groups was gifted a backpack filled with brand-new school supplies—aimed to lighten the load for families preparing their children early in the school year.
The Bonanza is an opportunity to connect families with the resources they need, not only from CLC, but from a variety of local organizations committed to helping children and families thrive. Community partners like The Child Care Resource Center, Family Support Network of Greater Forsyth, SaySo (Forsyth Chapter), The Parenting Path, and Triad Restorative Justice set up tables and shared information about their services. The event created an approachable environment where families could easily access support and resources.
At its heart, the Back to School Bonanza was about ensuring that families feel seen and supported as they prepare for the school year. For the children who left with backpacks full of supplies and smiles on their faces, and for the parents who received valuable information from local organizations, the day was a resounding success.
The impact of this event reflects the collective effort of Powell, CLC, and the many local organizations that come together to support children throughout the year.