By Samantha Bolden | The Selma Times-Journal

Two back to school bashes will be distributing school supplies for the community next Saturday.

Selma City Schools has partnered with Rural Health Medical Program and Selma AIR for a Back to School Bash at the Selma High School back courtyard from 9 a.m. until noon.

The event will include free food, games and music.

“Students will have the chance to meet some of our principals and teachers,” said Selma City Schools public relations professional Aelia Adams. “This is a great opportunity for the community to come together, and know what the city of Selma has to offer.”

Two hundred free backpacks will be filled with school supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, folders, notebook, and more on a first come, first serve basis.

Students must be present in order to get a book bag.

In its second year, the purpose of the event is to give teachers, students, parents and the community-at-large the opportunity to share and get excited about what’s in store for the upcoming academic year.

The Rural Health Medical Program will issue out health screenings, sports physicals and fluoride rinses.

Physicals will be given for free for the first 25 students only. All other sport physicals will be at a discounted fee of $10.

School uniforms will also be distributed in the event.

Cops and Kids Day is also scheduled for next Saturday for a fun day to get students hyped for the school year.

Students will have the chance to engage and interact with officers at the event hosted by Deputy Donald Gantt.

“I always wanted to give back to the community to make it more positive,” said Gantt, who is a deputy in Perry County. “With everything going on with the cops lately, I thought that it would be good to show the kids that we’re out to help them not harm them.”

The event will be filled with free food, games, bouncers, music, Paw Patrol, school supplies, book bags and a K-9 show.

Thomasville Police Department, Camden Police Department, and Selma Police Department are scheduled to bring their K-9’s for the show.

Gantt says that all children from surrounding areas are invited to the event.

Five hundred free book bags will be filled with supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, hand sanitizers, toothbrushes and more. Students must be present in order to receive a bag.

Shanta Owens and Shera Grant, who are twin judges from Jefferson County, will be making an appearance to talk to children, according to Gantt.

“This is a day for the kids,” Gantt said. “I’m very excited about it.”

The Cops and Kids Day will be next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Potter Station Ball Field, located at 3383 Moore’s Ferry Rd in Marion Junction.

For more information, contact Officer Gantt at (334) 413-0440.