By Quinn O’Hara

For over 10 years the Clay Center Elks Club Lodge 2253 has provided free school supplies to USD 379 students going into kindergarten to 8th grade through their Back to School Fairs.

The Elks provide almost everything on the back-to-school shopping list, including pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, and more. This year, the Elks will be offering $5,500 in school supplies thanks to an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant, $1,000 from the Clay County Education Endowment Association, and additional financial help from Central Office Service & Supply.

Trish Halstead, the Clay Center Elks’ Grant Coordinator, said the donations will help relieve a financial burden from local families and even the schools.

The Fair will take place on Tuesday, July 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. No financial proof is needed to collect supplies. Additionally, local organizations such as the Clay County Health Department and other resource agencies will be present at information booths ready to help students and families.

Halstead said the yearly Back to School Fair is one of the Clay Center Elks’ biggest projects of the year and is one they are the proudest of because they can benefit several parts of the community all at once.