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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Central Alabama Wellness is having its fourth installment of the annual Back to School Bash on July 27 at E.M. Henry Park in Clanton. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the park will be full of family activities, free food and drinks and givebacks helping provide information for the community to live well.

The Back to School Bash will have various community vendors and health resources at the event, a mobile health truck that will be free for the community, inflatables, interactive games, free popcorn and food, food trucks and carnival games.

For this year’s event, Central Alabama Wellness will be partnering with the West End Neighborhood Watch. Members of the West End Neighborhood Watch attended the Back to School Bash last year, and the two groups realized they both serve the same community, thus leading to the partnership this year.

The Central Alabama Wellness Chilton County Wellness Committee also played an important role in organizing the fourth annual event.

“We were able to bring our resources and partner with the neighborhood watch to serve the same people, but bring in more resources for both parties,” Director of Central Alabama Wellness, Zina Cartwell, said. “We are combining what we do separately to create a great partnership.”

The fourth Back to School Bash this year will see its third different location in the event’s history. The first year it was held in Jemison, and the last two events at Chilton County High School before the move to E.M. Henry Park. Having the event in different locations and areas across Chilton County allows CAW to reach different people, and see how each area’s needs are unique.

“Even though Chilton County is considered to be a smaller county, it is spread out, so one area may need something in comparison to what another area may need,” Cartwell said.

A big part of the Back to School Bash each year is the backpack giveaway, and CAW will hand out 300 more backpacks to students this year as well. The backpack will be filled with school supplies, but also drug and alcohol prevention and mental health information to help students remain well throughout the upcoming school year.

Cartwell said that mental health information is very important for students to have on a daily basis to remain well. The Back to School Bash this year will bring awareness to the risks of underage drinking, and the dangers of social hosting.

“We want to really make the awareness that (providing alcohol to underage persons) is still against the law, and even if you are the parent, that is against the law as well and you could be liable for what happens,” Cartwell said. “It is important for us to bring awareness to those dangers, as well as providing information on mental wellness. A lot of times, people start using substances due to mental health issues, so we are able to tackle both of those issues and educate the community. If you need us for anything, we are here … Just being able to provide that information can help people live life well.”

Central Alabama Wellness is still taking donations for the backpack giveaway and the event, and will take donations up until July 27. Anyone interested in donating or contributing are asked to contact Cartwell at 205-728-8454.

E.M. Henry Park is located at 413 14th Street S., Clanton.