NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Students in New Port Richey ended the summer with some fun Sunday while also getting ready for the new school year.
- Rising Stars of Tampa Bay hosted 7th Annual End of Summer Bash
- Event hosted at The Original BarberShop, where children received free haircuts
- 5,000 backpacks filled with supplies given away at event
- More Back to School stories
The 7th annual End of Summer Bash offered school-age children everything from free food to fun in the bounce houses to free haircuts and school supplies for the upcoming year.
Rising Stars of Tampa Bay, a coalition of businesses dedicated to giving back to the community, hosted the event at The Original BarberShop in New Port Richey.
For one local business owner, the cause hits close to home.
“I understand the struggle. I come from hard times, and I know how it is to go without," said Jonathan Torres, also known as Jay Tee Barber, who owns The Original BarberShop. "So I want to make sure that I make that difference to make sure that all the kids go back to school with everything they need and all they have to do is focus on getting a bright future and education.”
“We got haircuts and we also helped get some of this stuff ready," said 5th grade twins Isaac and Isaiah, gesturing toward piles of backpacks and school supplies ready to go out to other children. "We got to help out with the supplies over there and we kind of helped with the backpacks a little bit, too.”
In total, 5,000 backpacks filled with supplies were handed out at the event.