With around 1,600 active duty military personnel stationed between Truman Annex and Boca Chica Naval Air Station, and their 1,200 children in the area, the back-to-school season can be a significant financial strain on families. To alleviate some of the burden, Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Key West hosted its third annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 7, at the Sigsbee Youth Center. The event featured 300 backpacks filled with essential school supplies that were given away to military families.
Organized by NavyMWR Key West, the backpacks and supplies were provided by the Child and Youth Program on Sigsbee and Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization committed to supporting military families by offering services that ease financial strain and offer community support. Donations were collected through boxes placed in local businesses such as Office Depot, which helped fund the school supplies.
Operation Homefront’s involvement in Key West is relatively new. Jamie Tovar, the team captain for Operation Homefront in the area, initiated the chapter, after seeing the need for such services in Key West.
“This event is designed to lessen the burden on parents who have to buy large amounts of school supplies each school year,” said Tovar.
Tovar is an active-duty service member with four children. She spends her spare time volunteering with Operation Homefront and the Sigsbee Youth Center.
The MWR made an entire day for Key West’s military kids at the Sigsbee Youth Center. Kids enjoyed a 20-foot bounce house, free bags of cotton candy, movies and games set up in the recreational area.
Local businesses and organizations also rallied around the event. The Fleet & Family Support Center, Fury Water Adventures (which raffled off two water activities) and BlueCross BlueShield came out to support military kids heading into their next school year. They set up booths with informational brochures and professionals for parents, and provided additional treats like coloring books and various knick-knacks.
Misty Acevedo, the youth director at Sigsbee Youth Center, has been a cornerstone of NavyMWR Key West for 28 years, supporting military families through her various roles in Key West.
“Many military families face financial challenges and limited resources,” said Acevedo. “This event helps their kids start school on the right foot, easing some of the worries that come with back to school preparations.”
NavyMWR Key West is committed to supporting military families throughout the year, organizing events that provide both fun activities and essential resources. The Back to School Bash is one example of its dedication to improving the quality of life for military families stationed in Key West.
