By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-916895.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair brought thousands of kids and parents to Fair Park today. KERA's BJ Austin says organizers were ready for a bigger crowd than last year.
The Skyline High School Drum Line helped kick off the 14th annual Mayor's Back to School Fair. Each year, it provides free school supplies, backpacks, immunizations, eye and dental screenings and haircuts to low income children. Organizers prepared for 50 thousand people, ten thousand more than last year. Only those confirmed as low income-eligible got the school supplies, but free immunizations, health screenings, haircuts, and other activities were open to all students.
Cindy Rodriguez got in line at 5am for the 8 o'clock start. Her son will be in the first grade.
Rodriguez: I was going crazy. I didn't know how I was going to do it. I'm not working right now. It's hard for me to find a job right now. So, when I heard about this, said wow, I got to go get that.
Dallas School Superintendent Michael Hinojosa calls the generosity and enthusiasm of Fair sponsors and volunteers "amazing."
Hinojosa: We have 86 to 87% of our families that are economically disadvantaged. When I see the eye screening, when I see the opportunity to have dental screening - all these kinds of things -- these are things that - I was a poor kid, I didn't go to a dentist until I was in college. So I know what these kids go through. For our community to have these kinds of resources, it's really encouraging.
Dr. Hinojosa says the Fair helps get students ready to "learn", and that's a huge plus.