Fallon Community Days is an annual event where local students can receive school supplies.
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The annual Fallon Community Day at the Rafter 3C arena on Saturday signals the beginning of the new school year which is only weeks away for Churchill County students.
For the last 11 years, sponsors donate school supplies for the area students, while other local agencies hand out information to help families. Doors open at 9 a.m., and Churchill County Social Services are encouraging people to arrive early as they’re expecting more than 500 families. Children must attend with their families.
“We had supplies for 500 kids (in 2022) but we had 530,” said Brittany Burton, an office specialist with Social Services. “We had some people go to Walmart to buy backpacks.”
Burton said families began lining up at 7:30 a.m. last year, so she encourages families to come once the doors open. Once inside she volunteers and Social Services employees will hand out backpacks, headphones, markers, pens and pencils. She said most of the students who come with their families attend elementary school because the upper grades have their Chromebooks.
In addition to the availability of supplies, she said first responders will attend to interact with the families and children and have displays. Burton said, for example, the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office will bring its side by side, and the Fallon Police Department will share a table with animal control.
New Frontier Treatment Center will once again provide hot dogs and chips. Other activities include a free bounce house, car seat checks and installations and free swimming at the city’s outdoor pool at Oats Park.
During the 2022 event, New Frontier had supplies spread out on three tables.
“We get everything the student need,” said Lana Robards, New Frontier’s executive director, at the 2022 event.
Robards said her staff looks at the need lists handed out by the schools, and they buy the listed supplies.
Fallon Community Day is sponsored by Churchill County, the city of Fallon, the Churchill Community Coalition, CC Communications and New Frontier.