Back to School Family BBQ Adds Supply Drive, Avon Lake Historical Artifacts

This weekend’s second annual Back to School BBQ will add some new flavor—in the way of vendors and history—while helping out CRS with school supplies.

On Saturday, Aug. 3 from 4 p.m. - sunset at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon Lake, bring the family for dinner and stay for the bounce houses and slides, games and prizes, face painting and balloon Twister.

The event is one of several festivals held at Veterans Park by the Avon Lake Waterfront Corporation (ALWC). The Foundation’s Avon Lake Wine Festival was several weeks ago.

This year’s vendors include Buffalo Wild Wings, Rio Coffee Brewery, Marco's Pizza, Giant Eagle, Novotny Catering, Krav Food Truck, Mad Mouth Gyro and the French Creek YMCA.

New this year - the Avon Lake Historical Society, Avon Lake Preservation Society and Peter Miller House Museum will all have displays and games featured inside the Folger Home allowing residents of all ages to learn about the city’s history.

The “back to school” element of the event will be in full swing this year.

The ALWC is teaming up with the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club for its annual school supply drive to benefit Community Resource Services. Anyone donating school supplies (or monetary donation) will be entered into a raffle for a free gift. 

Also on hand will be the Avon Lake Early Childhood PTA group. This group is for residents with children ages birth through 6 years old. They organize playgroups, age appropriate field trips/outings, parties, etc. Sign up at the BBQ and receive discounted membership dues and a free gift. 
Kiwanian Kyle Maurer said the event will be crucial for helping CRS’s mission of helping Avon and Avon Lake residents.

“We are happy to partner with the Avon Lake Waterfront Foundation,” Maurer said. “We will again be collecting monetary and school supply donations to be given directly to CRS for local distribution. This annual event has become the single largest source of donations for CRS, making their ‘Backpack Campaign’ a resounding success in getting supplies to families with children in the school system from K-12.”

Maurer said the Kiwanis Club  has already reached half of the amount raised last year and the event has yet to be held.

“A large part of this is due to the help of a local grant given by Wal-Mart, for which we are very grateful.”

During the event Maurer will be raffling off 30 different prizes from local Avon Lake businesses and organizations.

“In keeping with the mission of the ALWC, we believe this showcases the great businesses of our community and also doubles as a means to raise more funds and supplies in support of CRS. Guests are encouraged to bring supplies to enter the prize drawing. The premise is simple, the more supplies a family brings, the more chances to win a great giveaway.”

Veterans Memorial Park is on Lake Road at the SR 83 intersection.