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Photos: Back-to-School Bash

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Smita Donthamsetty, left, and Parker Allison unload backpacks. — Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Smita Donthamsetty, left, and Parker Allison unload backpacks. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Smita Donthamsetty, left, and Parker Allison unload backpacks.

By Robin Rudd, staff photographer September 1, 2020 1 min read

Hamilton County Schools celebrated the start of the school year with a safe, no-contact drive-thru for families, offering each a free backpack with school supplies thanks to generous supporters.

Photo Gallery

Back-to-School Bash

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Volunteers unload a truck of school supplies.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Hamilton County Schools' Jill Levine, left, and Katie Skonberg confer before the event starts.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / As cars begin to enter the pavilion, Angela Clark, center, gives out gloves to Yvette Stewart and Brody Scott.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / A family exits the First Horizon Pavilion past a decorated "art car."

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cars fill First Horizon Pavilion.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / School Patrol officers Everlina Spencer and Tony Hudson watch as Doug Smith demonstrates his "stop"/"go" sign technique.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / RaeKenya Walker gives out backpacks and other supplies.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Rachel Emond fills a family's trunk with supplies. Families were encouraged to open their trunks to lessen exposure for themselves and volunteers.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Erlanger's Eve Nite, sporting spider-like personal space barriers, greets families.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Shantel Worbington gives out treats to families waiting to enter the pavilion.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Hamilton County Schools Human Resources Director Penny Murray greets families.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / A little boy watches as a volunteer is interviewed by a news reporter.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Marti Hemphill gathers up backpacks for a family.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Amanda Taylor arranges backpacks during a lull in the line.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The YMCA's Laura Horne gives out treats to families.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cars exited the pavilion through a balloon archway.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / RaeKenya Walker gives out backpacks and other supplies.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Erlanger's Eve Nite greets families as they enter the pavilion to receive supplies. Hamilton County Schools kicked off the 2020-2021 school year, on Saturday August 8, 2020, with the district’s third annual Back to School Bash. This year’s event was a safe, no-contact drive-thru for families to receive a free backpack with school supplies. The 2020 event is made possible through the generous partnership of the Nehemiah Project, BlueCare Tennessee, State Farm, and United Way.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Amanda Taylor hands out supplies in one of the two lanes used in the pavilion.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cars fill the southbound lane on Chestnut Street as they wait to enter the First Horizon Pavilion.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Smita Donthamsetty, left, and Parker Allison unload backpacks.