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Downtown merchants, volunteers say Back-to-School Shuffle is decades-long community tradition
Summary
A longtime volunteer said she grew up downtown and that merchant generosity through the Dana group keeps the Back to School Shuffle running, helping families and reflecting local heritage.
Betty, a longtime downtown participant, said she has been involved in the Back to School Shuffle for decades and described the event as part of the town’s heritage. "I grew up in the downtown... My dad opened his store here when I was 2 years old," she said, adding that the event is "what we do" and that downtown merchants "really care about the kids and the people in our town."
Betty described the event’s role in helping families prepare children for school and praised the generosity of participating merchants and volunteers. "We want our kids to go to school prepared and ready to tackle everything they have during their school year," she said. Organizers said the event helps reduce the financial burden of school supplies by providing many items through vendor donations.
The moderator noted the organizers hope the shuffle continues for decades more and thanked volunteers for sustaining the event. The comments framed the shuffle as both a practical assistance program and a symbol of local community cohesion.
