MIDDLEBURG – Two of the benefits of the Back to School Outreach program on Friday, July 25, at the Salvation Army were free hot dogs and snow cones.

The booths were set up at the back of the building, which proved to be a fortunate placement to those who arrived after the doors opened at 9 a.m., since the line stretched across the front of the building and around the side to the back.

Although adults and students may have been 150^th in line, they were able to enjoy a fresh grilled hot dog and stay cool with snow cones without getting out of line.

Nearly 800 students were served at the Back to School Outreach at the Salvation Army last Friday.

STAFF PHOTOS BY DON COBLE

Army Corps Officers Maj. Melissa and Capt. Tim Scott optimistically hoped to serve 600 students with new bookbags filled with grade-appropriate school supplies, shoes, sports physicals and information about other services throughout the county.

Bags for younger students included crayons, markers, erasers, glue sticks, scissors, pencils, paper, notebooks, a ruler and folders. Meanwhile, older students received protractors, pens, a dictionary and index cards.

“The line was around the building, and then the buses started bringing people in,” Tim said.

Melissa said 445 bookbags were distributed during the event, but many of the families that were registered stopped by the post the week following the event to pick up their supplies.

"By the time it's all said and done, we'll be around 700," she said.

Students could also get a free sports physical.

STAFF PHOTOS BY DON COBLE

The Salvation Army will participate in Stuff the Bus on Aug. 1.

The Scotts transferred from Florence, South Carolina, a month ago. While they are still learning the nuances of Clay County, they are amazed by the level of need and support that exists in the community.

“Even if things change in the economy, there's still a group of folks that are not feeling it yet,” Tim said. “We were so blessed (Friday). We had a fabulous group of volunteers. I don't have those numbers on hand, but I know we had more volunteers this year than we did last year. That need always grows as well.”

The Scotts said they may approach the organizers of other back-to-school events, particularly the Back to School Bash at the Thrasher-Horne Center, to discuss potential collaboration.

“Even if we don't combine them, if we worked in conjunction, I do believe that we're always stronger together,” Tim said. “I just have to decide and discover how that might work. Maybe we can make it a multi-location event. If you can’t come here, maybe you can go there. Honestly, I don’t know how it will look yet.”

Students also went home with new toothbrushes and toothpaste.

STAFF PHOTOS BY DON COBLE