Marie Gilmore
This year’s 14th Annual Valrico/FishHawk Chamber of Commerce Back to School Festival will continue to benefit local needy children with back to school supplies. The event will stay indoors this year at the Campo Y gymnasium and will be held on Sunday, July 17 from 1-4 p.m.
“We know that each year, the heat becomes a factor for our vendors and attendees,” said Chamber past president Bridget Jenkins-Wilson. “Moving into the air conditioning at the Y, where the school supplies need to go for the school supply backpack program anyway, is a win-win for us.”
With more than 100 local business booths, samples from 10 restaurants, music, extracurricular demonstrations, free giveaways and door prizes, there is a lot to do.
Admission is free but $10 worth of new school supplies or a $10 cash donation is requested. The supplies will benefit the Y’s migrant children effort. Last year, more than 400 students received supplies as the result of the event.
In addition to food and business booths, Pure Power Productions will emcee the event and there will be performances by local after school programs and extra-curricular activities.
The event is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Times/Brandon Times, Kids ‘R’ Kids Valrico and Circa FishHawk, Tutoring Club of Valrico, Chick-fil-A Lake Brandon Village and Westfield Brandon, Mosaic, Cardinal Roofing & Solar Technologies, Canine Cabana, Mathnasium and Edward Jones-Melissa Haskins.
The Valrico/FishHawk Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a membership of more than 180 local business owners who meet twice per month to network and support growing local businesses.
The Campo Y is located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. Valrico. For more information, visit www.valricofishhawk.org or call 657-2418 or email editor@ospreyobserver.com.
