Henry Daily Herald

McDONOUGH — Thousands of needy students throughout Henry County can get free backpacks and supplies on back to back weekends this month, before heading back to school in August.

The 2012-13 Back to School Event, in its fourth year, will be held at Stockbridge High School and also will feature free physicals. It will be Saturday, July 14, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Parent Expo will be July 21, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, at 1500 Tara Place in Hampton.

Erik Charles, vice chairman of the Henry County Board of Education, said donations for the Back to School Event can be made at Stockbridge High through Thursday, July 12, during school hours — from 8 a.m., until 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The school is located at 1151 Old Conyers Road in Stockbridge.

Last year’s event drew 3,500 people, said Charles, who hopes to reach 4,000 this year.

The Parent Expo, to be hosted by Communities in Schools (CIS) of Henry County, also hopes to give away 4,000 book bags. The event is similar to last year’s “Backpack to School,” hosted by Henry County Schools and the non-profit Connecting Henry, Inc.

“The focus of the Expo is parental engagement, and parent-student involvement,” said Pam Carter, the executive director of Communities in Schools of Henry County. “It’s going to be a great event for our community and our parents and students to make them aware of services that are available to them.”

To learn more about the Back to School Event, call Charles at (678) 462-4670. For the Parent Expo, call (770) 288-6230, or visit www.cis-henry.org.