By Natalie Covher

Outpatient Medical Center (OMC) hosted a back to school bash Friday, August 5. The bash included several vendors including the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Community Services Division, The Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, The Women’s Resource Center, Tobacco-Free Living, Families Helping Families and others. Activities included face painting, a get fit boot camp and a bully free zone. OMC raffled off 10 backpacks filled with an array of school supplies.

“This is our third year holding this event,” said OMC Outreach and Enrollment Supervisor Cynthia Parker. “We are trying to affect the community and give kids a head start in school. We want to help parents with the financial expenses of getting their kids ready for the year.”

The first 500 kids to arrive received OMC cinch sacks with school supply staples.Over 100 cinch sacks were given out in the first hour of the bash. Members of the Concerned Citizens Association of Bailey Heights (CCA) volunteered at the event and presented certificates of appreciation to vendors that went above and beyond to provide a leg up to children in the area.

“We came to help out,” said CCA president Johnny Barnes. “We wanted to acknowledge vendors for the service they are doing for the community.”