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The 2006 North Portland Back-to-School Readiness Fair ~ Event Summary 2006
Roosevelt High School was the site of the 8th Annual Back to School Readiness Fair, which is an event of the Caring Community of North Portland. This is a truly unique and grassroots event that provides resources for everyone who attends and hands out supplies for youth from birth to seniors in high school. In 2006 the Fair was held on Saturday August 26th providing families from North Portland and beyond with free school supplies for all school-aged youth and literacy supplies for children birth to four. Information on services and programs, employment resources, vision screenings, and access to immunizations was provided by over 30 community agencies. More than 1,000 people attended the Readiness Fair this year and school supplies were provided to nearly 800 youth participants.
The Caring Community of North Portland partners with a variety of organizations committed to education and supporting school age children on the Peninsula. We serve students from every school on the North Portland Peninsula, including Portland Public Schools, Alternative Schools, and Private Schools. Our dedicated partners include school staff, service providers, community residents, staff from North Portland social services agencies, and local businesses. These individuals and groups come together to contribute a great deal of time, energy, resources, and funds to help families and children of North Portland return to school ready to learn.
The Readiness Fair addresses many aspects of returning to school that can result in economic and emotional difficulties for families, which can in turn cause impediments to educational success for young people. Social service agencies host informational tables that help address some of the serious challenges for North Portland families. This is done by providing information on services and enrolling youth and adults in programs that can help them and their children better succeed in school. It also provides increased connection to their neighborhoods and its community programs and opportunities.