Medford holds its first back-to-school resources fair

The cost of going back go school has gone up steadily over the last few years, with families struggling to budget for new clothes, school supplies, shoes and electronics. In fact, National Retail Federation estimates families with students in grades K-12 will spend an average of $858.07.

The city of Medford has stepped up in the past to provide school supplies by running an annual drive. But this year, the Office of Outreach and Prevention worked with the mayor’s office to expand the drive into a Back to School Fair at City Hall.

Despite rainy weather, families started to line up outside City Hall on Aug. 25 before the event even started. Organizers estimated more than 200 individuals and families had come through the doors by evening’s end.

“We saw that the mayor was getting ready to do her annual supply drive,” said Catherine Dhingra, who manages the Office of Outreach and Prevention. “We thought it would be great if we connected that to other resources in the city.”

Dhingra credited Samia Bennett, who also works in the office, with coming up with the idea of expanding the event into a one-stop shopping fair, where families could pick up supplies and backpacks and also get haircuts and needed vaccines.

“Our goal is to do it every year,” Bennett said. “This was a last-minute idea, but we’re looking to make it better next year.”

Bennett said residents seemed excited by the fair and many had given positive feedback to organizers.

“They know we can’t supply their whole list or anything,” she said. “But they seemed very excited and grateful.”

Outside the council chambers, Natasha Varthe and Darline Raymond staffed the backpack area. Raymond said Medford Housing had done outreach to let people know about the fair.

“It’s very exciting,” Raymond said, of the event. “After getting their backpacks, people can also get their supplies or free haircuts.”

Both said residents were commenting on how much the event was needed.

“One lady told me she had just lost her job,” Varthe said. “She said this was great for her family.”

Both agreed that for a first-time event, the turnout was excellent.

Down the hall, Jamie Sposato watched her 4 ½-year-old son, Cameron, get his haircut by Elena Morquezho of Flavia Leal Beauty School. Her other son Gabriel, 6, was waiting his turn.

“This is Gabriel’s first year in the public schools so we’re doing all the school activities that are being offered,” Sposato said. “Plus it’s definitely great that they’re giving out free haircuts and backpacks. It’s so expensive and hard to get appointments for my kids, who are going back to school.”

Sposato said the fair was incredibly well organized, as families were helped through the process of gathering supplies. She said she got to City Hall around 5 o’clock just as the event got underway, only to find people waiting.

“There are a lot of people here,” Sposato said. “They were all waiting in the rain to get in when I got here. This shows how much people need this.”

Shaira Rodriquez was also waiting for her son, 9-year-old Matthew Ferreira, who was getting his haircut by Richard Silvestro, owner of Silvestro’s Barber Shop & Shaving Parlor in Medford.

Silvestro said he received a call about the event from the cosmetology teacher he does demonstrations for at the vocational school. He said she asked if he might be interested in providing haircuts at the fair. He jumped at the chance to donate his time.

“It’s such a good idea,” Silvestro said. “I grew up in Medford and I own my own barber shop in Medford. I wanted to give back to my community.”

Rodriquez said she and her kids had come down to City Hall after seeing the city’s messages on both Instagram and Facebook about the first-time event. Having lived 10 years in the city, she said having such an event was amazing.

“It’s such a great idea,” she said. “We got supplies, backpacks, insurance information, vaccines and haircuts. It’s one-stop shopping!”