HOULTON, Maine — A fair to assist parents and children as they return to school next month will once again be held in the community.
Dannette Ellis, a long time volunteer for Aid For Kids and the coordinator of The “Other Maine” project, said Friday that the Aid For Kids annual education fair will return to Houlton 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the John Millar Civic Center.
Established in Houlton in 2005, Aid For Kids is a non-profit organization that aims to better the lives of children and their families. Its “Other Maine” project is exclusive to the state and distributes new articles of clothing, school supplies, essential household items and books for children to take home.
Ellis said that one of the most popular facets of the education fair will once again return. Bess The Book Bus, a mobile literacy outreach program that provides free books to children, will be on hand to distribute books to children of all ages.
When the bus first stopped in Houlton in 2010, children walked away with an estimated 300 books. Even more books have been given out in the past few years.
In addition, Krystal Caron, a child passenger safety technician, will be at the fair to assist parents in making sure their car seats are correctly installed. Parents also can sign up for a free car seat if they meet eligibility requirements. Applicants must bring their MaineCare card or WIC folder.
The Challenger Learning Center of Bangor will be at their fair to provide activities for children, as will the Children’s Discovery Museum in Augusta. Representatives from Lowes Build and Grow clinic will help children make a wooden craft kit, and a bounce house and other inflatables will be available.
Ellis added that children under 12 years old can receive a free haircut from Divine Family Hair Studio of Houlton, while Hannaford Pharmacy will offer flu shots. Parents must bring insurance cards.
A number of additional activities will be available, as well as information about oral hygiene, fire safety, drug abuse prevention and counseling.
