Basic back-to-school necessities can break the bank for some working families in the Florida Keys.
In Key West, management of Casa Marina and The Reach resorts wanted instead to give their employees a break. For the second year in a row, the hotels hosted a back-to-school bash for workers and their families.
Resort staff from the Curio Crew, which coordinates community outreach, volunteer events and employee appreciation programs, stuffed more than 100 backpacks with basic school supplies and gave them away during the July 30 event at The Reach Resort,
Last year’s event took place at the Casa Marina, which is temporarily closed for renovations.
In addition to the backpacks, expert barbers from Beards & Brews and Moore than Fades set up their hair chairs in a resort ballroom and gave free back-to-school haircuts.
The families also were treated to coloring books, bingo games and a barbecue buffet on a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
“We just wanted to give something back to our employees and their families, and hopefully ease some of the expenses that come when the kids go back to school,” said Andy Rosuck, the resorts’ director of sales and marketing.
The Curio Crew also invited representatives from the SOS Foundation and food bank who helped eligible families sign up their kids up for free and reduced-price school lunches. The foundation also sent families home with granola bars and other items for school lunch boxes.
The first day of school in Monroe County is Aug. 10.
