News Release to Holmes .County Herald, August 10, 2018
On August 7 a record crowd attended Durant National Out and Back To School Party at the historic Durant Depot in downtown Durant. About 75 volunteers worked to provide Durant families with school information, health care brochures, safety reminders, and over 400 book bags, plus literacy gifts from Durant Excel By 5.
City and County officials provided hamburgers and hotdogs to about 500 people. Supervisor James Young, Alderman Bo Patterson, and the City of Durant provided food supplies. Mac”s Fresh Market donated hamburger buns and hotdog buns. Subway Restaurant gave trays of lettuce, tomatoes, and condiments for the hamburgers. AmeriPride set up a booth in the Food Court, supplying iced water and fruit juice packs. Charles Davenport and the Goodman Masonic Lodge and Alderman Patterson’s team cooked and served hotdogs.
The literacy theme for this year’s party was Paw Patrol Helping Others. Excel By 5 distributed Paw Patrol coloring books and Disney play kits, plus school supplies for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. The mission of Excel By 5 is to help parents and educators prepare children for kindergarten so that they have a foundation for life-long learning and educational success. Families First, funded by MIss. Dept. of Human Services, has been working in Durant, partnering with Excel by 5, the City Board, and local educators in a program of support services.
Durant Excel By 5 and the City of Durant express their thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this special event. Primary sponsors listed on the program are Bo Patterson, Dr. Daryl Roby, Entergy, AmeriPride, Howell and Heggie, Hunter Engineering, Mac’s Fresh Market, Renasant Bank, Subway Restaurant, Supervisor James Young, Walmart, Affordable Funeral Home of Durant, Durant Excel by 5, and Families First. Many individuals donated school supplies, and the vendors donated educational materials. Hunter Engineering provided two extra tents for the use of Durant Head Start and other volunteers.
Health Care vendors were Magnolia Health Care, Tobacco Free Mississippi, Mallory Community Health Center, Life Help Service, and Delta Health Alliance. Education booths included Jackson State Alumni, Excel By 5, Durant Elementary School, Families First, Williams Sullivan Elementary School, and CDI Head Start. Other participants and supporters were Durant Mayor’s Youth Council, under the direction of Cardell Wright, Paige Bailey from the Mississippi Fire Marshal, the Nollie Jenkins Family Center, Argie Peters Logan Stem Academy, Durant Library, Holmes County Youth Football, Genesis Day Care, North Central Planning and Development District WIOA Youth Program, Holmes County Extension Service, and Durant Youth Football Team.
During the school year Families First and Durant Excel By 5 will work with community service partners and local schools on several ongoing family literacy projects. Information booths will be provided at Durant Octoberfest and literacy gifts will be distributed at Christmas holidays and end of school term.