As the cost of preparing for a new school year continues to rise, the Excelsior Springs School District (ESSD) is once again working to help ease the financial burden on local families before students return to the classroom.

The Back-to-School Resource Fair will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 at Excelsior Springs Middle School. Open to all ESSD students seeking school supplies or additional resources, the event will offer backpacks with basic school supplies while they last, along with information and assistance from a variety of community organizations providing services ranging from clothing and shoes to vision, dental and mental health support.

The district noted families often begin lining up before the event opens, although supplies have not run out in previous years.

This year’s event marks the 11th year of the Resource Fair, which began after ESSD social worker Kim Curtis recognized a growing need among families for basic school supplies at the start of each school year.

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