Saturday, Aug. 13 Tryon United Methodist Church celebrates the start of a new school year with a community-wide back to school bash for students, teachers and parents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event will include free food, games and air-filled fun for the kids, resources for parents and gifts for teachers. Tote bags filled with school supplies will be distributed to the first 100 students.
The event began to really take shape when students from Rhonda Hill’s class at Polk County High School hand-painted a colorful logo on the tote bags. The congregation accumulated school supplies and other church members began a campaign to contribute new or little-used winter coats for school-age children and even free back-to-school haircuts.  Representatives from police, fire and health departments also accepted invitations to be present.
Families throughout Polk County are invited to join the fun. Tryon United Methodist Church is located at 195 New Market Road. For more detailed information, call the church office at 859-9218 or visit www.gbgm-umc.org/tryonumc.
– article submitted by Nancy Hiley