For the past eight years, Mack Reed has hosted an annual back to school get together for the Rand community in eastern Kanawha County, and this year is no different.
At 1 p.m. Saturday at the Rand Community Center, anyone interested can come and join Reed as he brings the community together to celebrate not just the beginning of the school year, but everything good the Rand community has to offer.
"Rand can get a bad rap," Reed said. "If something negative is going on here, you see it on the news and you hear about it, but something positive, no one ever knows about [it]."
For Reed, this event is the perfect opportunity for community members to come together, eat good food and show the children in the community they have everyone's support. Again this year, Reed purchased several backpacks, filled with school supplies, that will be given away to the neighborhood children Saturday afternoon. And even though it's through a drawing, he's confident there will be enough to go around for all the children.
"This is a big party, really it is, and it's just a nice thing for the kids," Reed said. "A lot of the time, people bring kids down. We shouldn't do that though - don't criticize kids, talk to them. They're smart, they know what's going on around them."
The cookout will feature live entertainment from a DJ and a Christian band, a jump house and games. And of course, Reed said, free food. Reed said he spends about $1,000 putting the event on, purchasing everything from food to prizes, and more. The community helps out, of course, but he said he doesn't mind.
"That's what I do - What I have I don't mind sharing," Reed said. "And it usually comes back around, you know? You never know when you're going to need one of those kids' help, or their parents. This helps build up our community - bring us together."
Those interested in donating can see Reed at the event, or bring backpacks and school supplies to be donated and given away next year.
"This needs to be made clear, none of this is going toward me, it's all for the kids," Reed said. "It's gonna be a blast, and if you can come, you got to eat!"
After the event, Reed said there will be takeout boxes available so that none of the food goes to waste, and people can bring it home with them. There will also be a special guest visiting the children at 1:30 p.m.
"Rand isn't that big, so we need to try and reach the kids... that's what we do," Reed said. "It's all about love - love and giving back. That's what this whole thing is about."
