LUMBERTON — Roof Above Resilience will host its second annual Back-to-School Bash on July 17 in Lumberton and is seeking donations, volunteers and community support to help provide school supplies and services for local families before the new school year begins. 

The event, organized by Roof Above Resilience founder Estina Holder, will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ben Barrett Community Center. The Lumberton-based nonprofit provides food assistance and other community outreach services to residents in need. 

Holder said she was inspired to start the nonprofit after an encounter while working at a homeless drop-in center. 

“One day I saw an individual eating outside. He dropped his hamburger on the ground and asked if he could still eat it,” Holder said. “That moment made me think about what more I could do for the community.” 

Holder said the Back-to-School Bash is designed to help families prepare for the upcoming school year by distributing school supplies while connecting them with community resources. 

The is collecting donations based on Lumberton Elementary’s official organization school supply lists for prekindergarten through fifth grade. Monetary donations are also being accepted to help purchase needed supplies. 

The event will include music, games, inflatable jumpers, snow cones, popcorn, a photo booth and community resource vendors. Holder said representatives from Lumberton Head Start and Clifton Preston Head Start are expected to attend to help families enroll eligible children in their programs. 

Holder said the event is intended to ease some of the financial burden families face before the start of the school year, particularly in rural communities. 

“These are hard times for everyone, and we’re trying to alleviate some of that stress,” Holder said. “Lumberton is a rural area, so some parents may not have the gas money or financial resources to travel to Hattiesburg.” 

In addition to collecting school supply donations and monetary contributions, Roof Above Resilience is seeking volunteers and sponsors to support the event. Holder said the organization plans to offer free haircuts and hairstyles for local students on July 16 and is looking for barbers, hairstylists, braiders and natural hair professionals willing to donate their time. 

Those interested in donating school supplies, volunteering, sponsoring the event or learning more can contact Roof Above Resilience through its Facebook page, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 769-218-8609.