Freeporters celebrate back to school with barbecue

After adding the finishing touches to five-year-old Kylie Blue’s sparkling purple, pink and blue eyeshadow, Zach Garfinkel of Mr. Eyeliner carefully layered white intricate squiggly lines around her face during the 12th annual Back to School Giveaway and Barbecue in Freeport on Aug. 18.

In an effort to help families prepare for back to school, Freeporter, Leon Broughton, owner of TRIMZ Barbershop, with the partnership of Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams, joined forces to host a community back to school event. The event included nonprofit organization, Heeling Soles, an organization known for providing assistance with shoes and clothing to families in need, the Village of Freeport, Fidelis Care, Advantage Care and other community-based organization that provided a one-stop shop to help meet local families and their back-to-school needs.

Over the course of the afternoon, Freeport families received health and wellness resources while enjoying grilled burgers and hot dogs while Broughton and his staff gave free haircuts in anticipation of the new school year. Other activities included a game truck, face painting, bouncy houses, raffles, music and performances. Families were seen milling about Trimmz’s side parking lot on Guy Lombardo Avenue either grabbing a quick bite, catching up with neighbors or talking to a number of the organizations offering legal, banking, home improvement and health and wellness resources.

This year, there was portable tennis court with coaches from Net Generation – the official youth division of the United States Tennis Association. The Nassau County District Attorney’s office was also on site to help parents register children in its Operation Safe Child Program.

“I wish every Nassau County family a safe and successful new school year,” Abrahams said.