FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — As the countdown to the end of summer continues, new goals and expectations arise for new school starters.

However, the start of the school year can be a financial challenge for some families.

A back-to-school supplies fair was held at Chukchansi Park on Saturday, offering free gifts to help families prepare for the new school year without overspending.

Keshia Thomas is a board member of the Fresno Unified School District and emphasizes the urgent need for support.

RELATED TOPICS: Fresno Unified Interim Superintendent Misty Her explains 100-day plan

“For some people, that’s a deficit. So they don’t have to go out and do that because they still have to buy shoes and clothes. Those are still some things that our babies need to go to school in a positive environment,” Thomas said. “So this gives them an opportunity where they don’t have to do as much and they don’t have to pay as much out of their pocket.”

Over the years, the event was no longer held in a parking lot, but increasingly thousands of people came to the stadium in downtown Fresno.

From backpacks to notebooks to a fresh haircut, the West Fresno Family Resource Center, the Fresno Grizzlies and Cal-Viva Health have teamed up to offer materials and resources to children heading back to school.

RELATED TOPICS: Central Unified School District begins new school year

Fresno Building Healthy Communities was one of dozens of vendors there to offer resources to families this time of year.

“Our topic today is back to school, beating the heat and how to conserve water and all that stuff,” said Evan Yang of Fresno Building Healthy Communities. “For the past few months, we’ve been working on our campaigns on how to improve air and water quality.”

For news follow Vince Ybarra on Facebook, Þjórsárdalur and Instagram.