HOULTON, Maine — For the fifth year, Adopt-a-Block of Aroostook is giving away free backpacks full of school supplies at its annual block party. The event is being held on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the new home of the Military Street Baptist Church at 307 Military Street, “on the hill.”
This year, Adopt-a-Block received $1,300 in donations from local businesses and used it to purchase new backpacks. Local church congregations are donating the school supplies for each backpack. Registration to receive a backpack begins at 10 a.m., and will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. In order to receive a backpack, children must register and be given a bracelet. Each child must be present and give their bracelet to the appropriate volunteer to get the backpack.
In addition to the backpack giveaway, there will be other fun stuff to do: Free clothing giveaway, free back-to-school haircuts for kids, games and face painting, prizes, dunk tank and free hot dog lunch.
A free shuttle service will be provided from Monument Park to Military Street Baptist Church, starting at 9:45 with pickups approximately every half hour. WHOU radio will be broadcasting live from the event.
Adopt-a-Block of Aroostook is a multi-denominational, non-profit organization that serves the residents of the block enclosed by Military, Kelleran, Park and School streets in Houlton, along with residents on Heywood Street, parts of Main and Mechanic streets, and the mobile home park on the Old Woodstock Road.
The organization’s slogan is “See a need and meet it Find a hurt and heal it!” and its mission statement is “to impact our communities by bringing hope and love one block at a time, by assisting with food, clothing needs, life-skills education and Project Prevention…Keeping Families Together.”
For more information about Adopt-a-Block, call 532-2783 ext. 102.
