GENTRY, AR — Gentry Primary School welcomed nearly 400 students and their families to campus last week for a special back-to-school event, where every child in kindergarten through second grade received free school supplies—thanks to a generous donation from Simmons Foods.
The donation, totaling more than $5,000, allowed the school to provide high-quality essentials such as Crayola crayons, Elmer’s glue sticks, and Ticonderoga pencils, ensuring that every student starts the year ready to succeed.
“This initiative lifted a major burden off our families and gave every student an equal start,” said Principal Andrea Folger. “It’s exciting for our students and families to have the support of such caring partners. It shows how much our community loves and supports every child.”
School supplies were distributed directly to students in the school cafeteria during the open house event, with the help of volunteers from Simmons Foods, the Gentry School Board, and Gentry Primary staff. The event reflects a growing effort within the district to remove barriers to education and strengthen community-school partnerships.
In addition to the school supplies, Arvest Bank made the event even more memorable by grilling and serving 200 hamburgers and 160 hot dogs for students and their families—turning the evening into a true community celebration.
“This is about more than crayons and pencils,” said Dr. Tyler Broyles, Superintendent of Gentry Public Schools. “It’s about showing families that we’re here to support them. Our vision is to expand this program district-wide in the near future.”
This pilot initiative at Gentry Primary School marks a significant first step in the district’s broader goal of supporting students academically and socially, with plans to grow the effort to all campuses.
Media Contact:
Mark Scott
Director of Community Engagement
📧 mscott@gentrypioneers.com
📞 479-264-0103
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