Just outside of the James Brown Arena in downtown Augusta, Hawk Law Group and Alison South Marketing Group presented the fourth annual “Fit 4 School” event, an easy one-stop-shop drive-thru to provide students in the CSRA with free school supplies.
On Saturday morning, Aug. 5, volunteers and local businesses chipped in to give students an exciting jumpstart to their academic year by instilling them with confidence.
“We just wanted to give back to the community and get the kids started off right with some supplies for them, and let them hit the ground running for school and their education,” said Hawk Law Group attorney and presenting sponsor Chase Duff. “We’re always willing to help anyone we can. I hope it sets them on a lifelong trajectory of success and prosperity.”
Although the outdoor summer sun can be unbearably hot at times, experienced volunteer from Fit 4 School Lindsey McCullough said giving back to others and making a difference in their lives made beating the Georgia heat all worth it in the end.
“We’re so grateful to Hawk Law Group and the Alison South Marketing Group, because without them and what they contribute every year this wouldn’t be possible,” said McCullough.
As a mother herself, McCullogh said she understood the kind of perfection all parents struggle trying to achieve when it comes to providing everything for one’s child, paying bills and working one or more jobs.
“Hopefully this results in one less thing off their to-do list,” she said. “In the kind of world we live in today, we could all use a little more hope.”
With 750 bags filled with various school materials such as pencils and notebooks, Fit 4 Augusta volunteers said they were grateful for all their sponsors and having the opportunity to offer community relief in unexpected ways.
First based in Aiken, according to Alison Chief Marketing Strategist Kate Sander mmsaid if not for Hawk Law Group stepping up to the plate and financially backing a much needed school drive in 2020, Fit 4 School might not ever have come to fruition in Augusta.
As superheroes and fairy tale characters walked about greeting attendees, families were handed goodie bags filled with snacks and invited to venture inside the arena to receive a free haircut from students enrolled in Aiken Technical College’s barber program.
Volunteering student JuJu Tooks said he wanted to help children look their best for picture day, and the beginning of school in order to give them some self-assurance.
“I’ll do anything for the kids to make them happy,” said Tooks. “If kids have a good picture from school, they can use that for their resume, makes them look more professional.”
Attending mother Crystal Simms said she was so thankful every year for Fit 4 School, because it offered some much needed solace – especially those with many children.
“This helps out a lot of the parents who can’t really afford it. It’s expensive to have haircuts,” she said. “They are like $20 for each kid, and it helps their appearance, makes them feel better because they’re not getting picked on for their [hair] naps.”
Simms said she was also glad local businesses were taking pride in caring for the CSRA less fortunate because it helped in the community’s overall morale.
“It takes a lot of supplies to go back to school, and that can be difficult for many local families to afford,” said attorney Reid Sanders, a partner in the Hawk Law Group. “We are happy to be able to be a sponsor and give local parents one less thing to worry about as their kids start the school year.”
