Granite School District held the ninth annual Back-to-School Night Aug. 6 for local refugee families, in partnership with Utah Refugee Connection. 

Despite the stifling heat, several hundred refugee families turned out, lining the halls of Granite Park Junior High School to collect school supplies and enjoy food, drinks and games.

Utah Refugee Connection coordinates the event each year, providing dozens of volunteers. The school district supplies the facilities, and Ken Garff Automotive Group sponsors the activities—this was their third year partnering with this initiative as part of their “We’re hear for you” program.

Amy Dott Harmer, executive director of Utah Refugee Connection, was onsite to oversee the event. She greeted many families and seemed to never stop smiling. 

She said, “the backpacks hold hope” emphasizing the community love and engagement behind the project. She said each backpack is provided by an individual or family who wants to see these children succeed.

“We want to empower the kids and contribute to the success of students in the state.”

The event has been growing each year. This year the team was prepared to accommodate 2,000 refugees and expected over 900, the number that attended the previous year.

Utah has 65,000 refugees, 70% of which are in the Granite School District. While the District holds the event, all refugee children are welcome.

As families entered the school, volunteers greeted each family and helped them along several stations where the children collected their new backpacks, a bag of school supplies and water bottles. They then made their way outside to pizza, Creamsicles and bounce houses.

Other vendors participated as well, setting up booths to offer valuable services. 

Take Care Utah, a nonprofit that helps reduce barriers to health care, attended the event for the second year, aiding families with knowledge and guidance on securing health insurance. Representative Lupe Figueroa said that the organization offers free services and has a multilingual team ready to serve.

Fifteen to 30 countries are represented by the multitude of families, and this event is one of five major events Utah Refugee Connection and partners put on throughout the year. 

Despite the oppressive heat, faces were full of delight. New backpacks, cotton candy, bounce slides and community service, all signifying hope ahead of a new school year.λ