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Boyle County approves $5,300 for bouncy houses, $300 toward backpacks for community back‑to‑school event
Summary
The fiscal court approved $5,300 to cover inflatables and $300 for backpacks for a community back‑to‑school block party after an organizer detailed donations and vendors for the July event.
Rachey Ford, a community event organizer, asked the Boyle County Fiscal Court on July 22 for county sponsorship to support her neighborhood’s back‑to‑school block party.
Ford said vendors and donors had committed backpacks, food and activities — including a $1,000 Walmart donation and multiple food donors — but that she needed county sponsorship to cover inflatables. "So I'm just here just to do the request for $5,000 for the bouncy houses, the back to school bash," Ford said, adding later that vendors had donated backpacks and other items.
Magistrates discussed additional donations and clarified that the county’s community development fund contains sponsorship money. A magistrate moved to amend the request to $5,300 to cover a discounted price Ford said she had negotiated; the amendment passed. The court then approved the floor motion as presented, recorded as county support for inflatables and an additional $300 toward backpacks; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Why it matters: Ford and volunteer organizers said the block party has grown into a major local event that provides school supplies, food and activities to children. Organizers described prior years’ distributions and estimated that last year more than 500 children received backpacks and supplies.
Details: Ford told the court that Walmart in London had ordered 100 backpacks for distribution and that other vendors and local businesses were contributing food, toys, and haircuts. She said inflatables were the largest single expense and that donors had offered discounts; she and magistrates agreed the county’s sponsorship would be drawn from the community development fund. Ford said she would cover remaining costs personally or through additional donations if needed.
The court’s support includes the amended $5,300 for inflatables and $300 toward backpacks. Organizers said they plan to distribute backpacks and supplies at the event and urged attendees to arrive early because supplies have been distributed quickly in prior years.
