The new school year began for students on Monday.

Over the summer the Cayce and West Columbia Police Departments conducted school supply drives and local businesses, churches, community organizations, and families sponsored numerous lunches for teachers and staff.

Scott’s Auto Repair donated 48 book bags and supplies for West Columbia Police Department’s Back-to-School Bash. The Cayce Police Department hosted 400 children at a Back-to-School Bash. Latino Communications, alongside the SC Farmers Market, donated $1500 worth of fresh produce to be handed out during Cayce’s Back to School Bash.

The Cayce Back-to-School Bash was sponsored by: Cayce Public Safety Foundation, Cayce’s Women Club, SC Farmers Market, Paul Mitchell School, Walmart, Odell plumbing, Personal Care Plus, Freeman Hill Lodge 628, Mount Zion Baptist Church, word of God, James Street representatives, Blue Cross Blue Shiel, Cayce community group, DJ Brown, Lighthouse for Life, Uplift, Serve and Connect, Thompson funeral home, Trinity Baptist Church, Tri-City Leisure Center, Los Chicanos Food Truck

On Friday August 7, the final day of preparation before students’ returned, a number of area businesses, many connected with construction, prepared lunch for Riverbank Elementary teachers, staff, and administrators. Members of Lafaye Custom Homes grilled hot dogs and burgers in a custom grill fashioned from a converted dumpster courtesy of VaVia Dumpster Rental of Columbia.

In addition to VaVia and Lafaye, others who donated lunch – along with backpacks, pens, pencils, and other school supplies for students, along with a check for any additional needed supplies – were The Miles Firm, Secure Locks Solutions, Traditional Masonry, Sanchez Construction, Diamond Quality Painting, Blake Brothers Lawn Care, J&L Electric, Hughes Supply, and 84 Lumber.