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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...93032397761.txt

Residents show up early for Back-to-School Rally

Alicia McCormick and Iyanna Jackson look through the backpacks they received during the Citywide Back to School Rally. Photo by Bob Wellinski
By Deborah Sederberg
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, August 22, 2010 5:08 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — At about 15 minutes before the end of the City-Wide Back to School Rally on Saturday afternoon at Gill Field, volunteers were down to about 50 backpacks from the 1,800 that had been donated.

“This is a wonderful community,” said Barbara Eason-Watkins, the new superintendent for the Michigan City Area Schools. “People are very generous.”

As an example, Betsy Kohn, MCAS director of communications, said Carlson’s Drive-In donated 2,000 hot dogs.

Kreamo Bakery donated half the buns. St. Anthony Memorial and the Pepsi Cola Bottlers donated water, said Kathy Kane, director of food services for MCAS.

Community members donated a variety of school supplies, including backpacks, pencils, erasers, folders, notebooks and other items.

Robert Jefferson, a third grader at Marsh School, was surprised to find a package of 24 erasers in his backpack. He doesn’t think he will need all two dozen right away. “I don’t make that many mistakes,” he said.

His buddies, Dante Porter, a third grader at Marsh and Noah Primer, a fourth grader at Joy, were pleased to find pencil and supplies boxes and colorful folders in their backpacks as well.

At the face painting tent, MCAS art teachers applied artistic painted tattoos to little faces and arms. According to Kohn, Sue Vigen, an art teacher at Joy and Edgewood schools, and Sue Cleveland, who teaches at Barker Middle School, popular images included Hello Kitty and Batman, flowers, hearts and bows.

“And glitter,” Vigen said. “They love glitter.”

Michigan City Junior ROTC members Samantha Henry, a sophomore and Karla Gonzalez, a junior, said they enjoyed distributing backpacks.

“The little kids especially were happy to be getting backpacks,” Gonzalez said. Henry agreed. “Their little faces just lit up,” she said.

At the public safety table, Michigan City firefighter and public education officer Jeff Santana and police detective Greg Jesse greeted youngsters and advised them to “be safe.”

The rally included games, drawings and prizes.

People arrived early, said Pat Harris, a coordinator of the rally that began at 11 a.m. “People were lining up by 9:30,” she said.

The first day of school for MCAS is Wednesday, Aug. 25.