HopeFest event is scheduled for Saturday

SIKESTON -- Here's a festival kids can learn from.

"'Back to school' can be an expensive time for families, especially for those with multiple children. To help relieve some of the financial pressures that area families face this time of year, we developed HopeFest," said Brad Aycock, one of the event's organizers.

During HopeFest, scheduled from 5-9 p.m. Saturday at the YMCA of Southeast Missouri in Sikeston, families can simply show up and receive free backpacks and free school supplies.

"There are no requirements, no forms, no registrations," Aycock said. "If your kids, kindergarten through high school, need these items and services, come out and join us. Everything is free."

Backpacks and supplies will be distributed to the first 1,000 to arrive. The first 600 students will also receive a free limited-edition HopeFest T-shirt.

"It will be setup like a shopping area to allow students to pick out the supplies they need," Aycock said. "There will also be free haircuts, vision and dental screenings, food and music."

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