- Community organizations in Southeast Texas are hosting a free back-to-school cookout at Imagination Station in Beaumont, offering school supplies, food, activities, haircuts, and other resources for families preparing for the new school year.
- Families are facing financial hardship as the cost of school supplies continues to rise, with one parent noting an increase from $100 to $150 this year, making it a bigger expense amidst higher job and bill costs.
- Organizers emphasize the importance of community support in easing the financial burden on families, with Divine Flavors joining the effort for the first time and encouraging donations of school supplies and hygiene items for the event.
Families across Southeast Texas will get help with the rising cost of back-to-school shopping this weekend as several community organizations host a free cookout at Imagination Station in Beaumont
Mikee’s Kitchen, Divine Flavors, Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church and other community organizations are hosting the event, now in its third year, from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Imagination Station, 640 S. Fourth St. The cookout will offer free school supplies, food, activities, haircuts and other re
Organizers said the goal is to help ease the financial burden many families face heading into the new school year. Suzanne Simpson, a cook at Mikee’s Kitchen, said many families are experiencing hardship right now and the organizers “just want to help out” and “give them a little push.”
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Parents say the support is needed as costs continue to climb. Lumberton ISD parent Cameron said she spent about $150 on school supplies this year, up from about $100 last year, when her child’s school district provided a supply kit. She said with the economy the way it is, jobs and bills are higher than normal, making school supplies a bigger expense
Simpson said the cost of feeding a family is already difficult on its own, and adding a long school supply list on top of that “makes matters hard.”
This year marks the first time Divine Flavors has joined the effort. Owner Billy Winbush said the partnership reflects a shared responsibility to support local children, saying “it takes a village for these kids” and that the community has “got to come together.”
Organizers are still accepting donations of school supplies and hygiene items ahead of Sunday’s event. Drop-off locations include Mikee’s Kitchen on Magnolia Avenue, Mikee’s Kitchen #2 on Concord Road and Beaumont Food District on Dowlen Road
