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Tarrant County Program Preparing For Back To School

Child haircut
(credit: Chuck Schechner/KRLD NewsRadio 1080)

TARRANT COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - Even though the school year just ended, Tarrant County officials are alerting low-income parents to sign up for a back-to-school event that will take place right before 2012-2013 classes begin.

The 8th Annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup will provide a variety of supplies and services for school-age children in need.

Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students will receive free school supplies and access to a range of education, health and social services at the event.

Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said there are thousands of children in need of help.

"One out of every five children in Tarrant County lives in poverty," he said. "So their not gonna have, without our help, that same ability to go into that first day and not be somewhat embarrassed and feel like they're already behind when they start out."

Pre-registration for the Back to School Roundup begins June 26 and runs through August 1.

The program, which has residency requirements, is meant to assist families that fall within a certain income bracket and would have no other way to prepare their children for classes.

"For a family of four their income would have to be less than $23,000 a year," Judge Whitley said. "They can't afford school supplies. That can't be one of their essentials that they have to do."

While the program will provide supplies, vaccinations and health screenings, there will also be free haircuts, toothbrushes and toothpaste for students. Judge Whitley said those components of the Roundup help with self-esteem.

"We don't want the children to start that first day out embarrassed, we want them to be excited about going to school because education is so, so very important," he said.

The 8th Annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup will be held Wednesday, August 8 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth.

Click here to find out more information about the event.

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