Alachua County children and their families are invited to attend the 27th annual Stop the Violence Back-to-School Rally slated for Saturday, July 25.
Organized by People Against Violence Enterprises (PAVE), with support from a wide range of local sponsors, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon inside the gymnasium of Santa Fe College’s northwest campus (3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville). Doors open at 9 a.m.
The theme for this year’s rally is “Love Shouldn’t Hurt,” with a focus on domestic violence. Past rallies have been mainly centered on gun violence.
“This year, we’re not changing our mission – we’re expanding it,” said Rev. Karl Anderson, founder and president of PAVE, in a press release. “Because of the recent increase in reported domestic violence incidents throughout our city and county, we felt compelled to broaden our focus beyond gun violence. Our goal is to equip youth and families with the education, resources, and support they need to build healthier relationships, stronger families, and brighter futures.”
The event will include entertainment and speakers, as well as information offered by community organizations ranging from safety and counseling to other topics, according to the release. Alachua County Public Schools staff will also be in attendance to provide back-to-school information on topics like enrollment, calendars, free school meals, transportation and more.
Free backpacks with school supplies, provided by Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, will be handed out to the first 5,000 school-aged children in attendance at the rally. The release said kids must be present to receive the backpacks and that there are no limits to how many children can attend.
Families can pre-register for the event by filling out a form.
For more information about the rally, call 352-363-1553 or visit www.pavingpeace.org.