Note – The majority of these photos were contributed by Courtney Ripoll.

An annual event in Polk County helping youth in need wasn’t about to be stopped just because of COVID-19, and it brought out a line of cars waiting early on to take part in a school supplies giveaway.

The 22nd annual Youth Summerfest and Christmas in July event this past Saturday might have been a drive thru event for 2020, but it achieved its mission of helping those Pre-K through 12th grade youth who needed new backpacks, and the folders, paper, pencils and more that children need in school.

Courtney Ripoll, who helps with organizing the Youth Summerfest portion of the event annually, said that 500 backpacks with school supplies were give away during the event over the weekend. Every single one was handed out, along with sack lunches during the event, and food from the Stockings of Love Christmas in July event, where they gave away free food, free clothing and bibles.

Ripoll said The HON Company, the Cedartown Optimist Club, the Rockmart Kiwanis Club, and other organizations all pitched in to help make sure Youth Summerfest donations were passed out to students in need of help ahead of the start of the school year.

She said no matter the conditions that they put upon the event this year to make it work, that it was ultimately all about the children.

“It is different because of the pandemic, but we’ve made the best of it,” Ripoll said.

Tressie Wilson, who helps with the Victory Baptist Church event, said they decided in January that no matter what happened they planned to have the event. This was the second year that both events were held together after they merged in 2019.

“We were not going to cancel it, no matter what we had to do,” Wilson said. “So we came up with the drive-thru idea, and then came up with a way for people to get clothing.”

Volunteers let in people to the clothing closet 10 at a time, and items were sanitized to make sure they were fine to wear.

Both organizations working together make the event happen annually not just with the help from big companies and clubs, but donations from ordinary people as well. Those interested in helping with the Stockings of Love program year round, contact Victory Baptist Church at (678) 685-4570 on specific needs at this time. Courtney Ripoll can help with directing aid for the Youth Summerfest donations for school supplies at 770-689-7838.