Broken Arrow Students Get In The Back-To-School Spirit

Students in Broken Arrow will be back class in 12 days, but they got a jump start on school supplies. The Broken Arrow Police Department and Broken Arrow neighbors teamed up to make sure children go back to school with the supplies they need.

There were plenty of smiles on Saturday from children getting ready for the start of school.

One smile was for the Masons, who were making ID cards for children and their parents, kits with DNA and fingerprints and a picture.

It was just one of more than a dozen free services at the Broken Arrow back-to-school bash, what has become a regular event each summer.

“I like coming out especially coming out getting ready for school and they had this neat ID program and we wanted to get our kids signed up for it,” Broken Arrow’s Tara Patrick said.

Outside, children got to visit with paramedics and check out their helicopter. They also visited with police officers to get some safety tips.

"You guys be sure and look both ways when you're going to get on the bus,” an officer told a group of students.

The program started nine years ago and the fun and the supplies come without restrictions. Anyone who needs it can have it. It's mainly attended by parents with younger children, but they take in all ages with free supplies for school and home.

“We've been giving kids immunizations to get them ready for school, haircuts and supplies and some really cool backpacks and they get to get a little education on how to cross properly in the crosswalk, how safely to get on the bus, so we mix a little safety education with all the fun we're having,” Broken Arrow Police Officer Lisa For said.

Organizers say they served over 1,000 children at Saturday’s annual event. It's their biggest turnout ever, but they hope to make it even bigger next year.