The start of the school year is edging closer and the Southwest Advocacy Group (SWAG) is having its annual backpack giveaway for residents in those neighborhoods. We just think this is one of the nicest things we can do for kids and get them excited about returning to school, said Dorothy Benson, chairwoman of SWAG.
The Backpack Giveaway is a collaboration between the nonprofit and the Partnership for Strong Families.
SWAG will give backpacks to families with K-12 students who live in the neighborhoods of Majestic Oaks, Holly Heights, Harbor Cove, Pine Meadows, Hidden Oaks Mobile Home Park, Gordon Manor, Tower Oaks and Linton Oaks.
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No child left hungry
Children of all ages throughout Alachua County will again be fed breakfast and lunch this summer.
Thanks to a federally funded food service program that runs from Monday through July 23, children from infants to 18 years old can receive free breakfast and lunch at 93 locations with a multitude of options that include in-person, bus routes, curb side grab and go and the Alachua County School District s food truck, which visits underserved neighborhoods including Hidden Oaks, Majestic Oaks and the Swag Family Resource Center.
All the children have to do to get a meal is to show up at a feeding site during meal times.
Deputies have arrested a woman in connection to the MLK Day murder of a man in the Linton Oaks neighborhood of Gainesville. On Jan. 18,Trevaughn Wilkerson, 21, was shot to death during an armed robbery as he sat in his car, deputies say. The alleged gunman, 19-year-old Xaviyaun Williams, remains at large. On Thursday, deputies pulled over 28-year-old Anterria Robinson. Authorities say she was in the same vehicle as seen on surveillance video.