SELMA, Ala. (WSFA) – Hundreds of Dallas County families packed Selma’s Riverfront Amphitheater Saturday for the second annual Dallas County City-Wide Back-to-School Bash, where students received everything from backpacks and school supplies to shoes, uniforms and, for the first time, Bibles.
The event brought together the City of Selma, Selma City Schools, Dallas County Schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, local businesses and volunteers with one shared mission: ensuring children start the school year prepared. Long before the event officially began, families were already lining up outside the amphitheater.
Volunteer organizer Lydia Chatmon, city center director for the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation, said the turnout reflects both the community’s need and the willingness of organizations to work together. “We’re grateful for all of the organizations that have come together and for the leadership of Ms. Purifoy and everything that she has done to make this countywide back-to-school bash a success,” Chatmon said.
She said many families are forced to make difficult financial decisions as the cost of everyday necessities continues to rise. “People are literally having to choose between whether they’re investing in school supplies and clothes or paying their rent or purchasing gas,” Chatmon said. “Families are having to make some hard decisions.”
To help ease that burden, families left with backpacks, notebooks, uniforms, shoes, hygiene products, classroom supplies and other essentials. Children also enjoyed bounce houses, face painting, free popcorn, hot dogs, water and juice while parents visited resource booths throughout the event.
A teacher’s vision becomes a countywide effort
The event was created by fourth-grade teacher Shereva Purifoy, who said the idea came after seeing firsthand what many of her students lacked when arriving at school. “It was a vision from God,” Purifoy said. “I’m a fourth-grade teacher, and I see firsthand the needs that kids have. I knew my school wasn’t the only school in the district that had needs, so why not do it citywide?”
Purifoy said students were able to receive nearly everything they need to begin the school year. “Uniforms, supplies, hygiene products, shoes, backpacks — whatever your child needs, we got it,” she said. She believes helping students feel prepared can also help them feel more confident walking into the classroom. “When kids have everything that they need, when they walk into school with those new shoes and new clothes, they’re ready. They’re excited,” Purifoy said.
As a teacher, she also had a message for students preparing to return to class: “Get your mind right, be prepared, be ready to learn because you’re going to need it in the future to be whatever you decide to be. Just give it your all.”
City leaders say partnerships make a difference
Selma City Councilwoman Lesia James said the event is about removing barriers that can distract students from learning. “When a child has what they need, they can learn,” James said. “They don’t have to go to school thinking about having a pencil, having paper, having clothes. We’re providing it for them today so they can focus on learning.”
James said the event also provides much-needed financial relief for parents. “The economy is really at a crunch now,” she said. “Some parents are working, some are not, and some still can’t meet their needs. We’re providing essentials that students need like clothing, pencils, paper, shoes, and we’re feeding families today.”
To make sure as many families as possible received assistance, organizers implemented a ticket system that allowed visitors to receive items from multiple booths while helping supplies reach more people. James estimated the event served at least 1,000 families. She said those partnerships also help local school systems by reducing some of the demand for back-to-school resources. “When all these people partner together, it makes the workload lighter on our school systems,” James said.
Families feel the impact
For Burkesa Sullivan, a single mother of three, the event provided more than just school supplies. “It’s a relief to me being a single mom of three,” Sullivan said. She estimates she normally spends well over $100 on school supplies for her children. “Today’s event decreased that amount tremendously,” she said.
Her daughter, Theorie Sullivan, left with school supplies and a backpack and said she feels ready for fifth grade. “I’m happy that I had the opportunity to come here,” Theorie said. “I feel more prepared for school.”
More than a giveaway
This year’s event also introduced a new initiative to place a Bible in the hands of every child who wanted one. Chatmon said while the school supplies are important, the event represents something much bigger. “There has been a narrative that Selma doesn’t come together,” she said. “This actually dispels that myth.”
She said organizations, churches, city leaders, civic groups and volunteers all worked side by side to make the event possible. “If we really are saying that we want a better society, a better America and a better Selma, then we have to come together,” Chatmon said. “This event is among those occurring in our community to reinforce that idea.”
Organizers say they hope to build on this year’s success and are already encouraging additional businesses, churches and community organizations to partner with them for next year’s Dallas County City-Wide Back-to-School Bash.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.