Parking was hard to come by as crowds gathered for the annual Back to School Bash on Monday. The event included a bouncy castle, a Gaga Ball pool that was busy throughout the evening, and a long line to see perhaps the busiest of community partners, a clown who made balloon animals for a steady stream of smiling children. DJ Giulia Sowrey of Star Sirch provided the event’s music.

“I love events like this because when everyone comes together, it shows how we can interact as a community,” said Dan Siracuse, United Way’s community relations coordinator. “You see everything from food to music to games to nonprofits, everyone is here for the same reason.

It’s great to see so many of these kids who are just starting school coming to an event like this. Seeing the whole community like this must be cool for them.”

A tent was set up for various community organizations where families could learn more about the resources available in the community. A staple of the annual event is the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County, which is no newcomer to participating in fun activities for Dunkirk’s youth.

Pictured are Dunkirk students Tiana Hough (left) and Shauntrea Boyd (right) at the Back to School Bash at Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk.

“It’s nice to see the kids interacting with the Gaga Ball pool and the playground. They are actually part of the park and using it for what it is intended for, which is really nice to see,” said Jeannie Gallaway, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County.

The focus of the event is on the children who will be returning to school in the coming days, but it has become more than just a school event.

“It’s exciting and extraordinary. It’s a great way to bring people together,” said Dunkirk Superintendent Mike Mansfield. “It’s a real collaborative effort between the city, the United Way and the school. With a little luck with the weather, it’s a really nice event.”

The event was created after the pandemic to bring the community back together. The city’s former Picnic at the Point event and the school’s annual back-to-school event have merged in recent years to become an annual tradition.

“It has simply grown to the point where we do this every year,” said Mansfield.

The United Ways of Chautauqua County are represented by (from left) Executive Director Amy Rohler, Community Impact Manager Eric Rinaldo and Community Relations Coordinator Dan Siracuse.

Mansfield noted that family involvement is a focus of the district, adding: “This is a big event, an important event.”

The event was coordinated by the City of Dunkirk, Dunkirk City Schools and the United Ways of Chautauqua County. Collaboration has been a focus of the United Ways in recent months as organizations on both ends of the county merged into a single United Ways organization.

Amy Rohler, executive director of United Way, said at the event on Monday: “We are pleased to partner with the City of Jamestown and Dunkirk City Schools, as well as all of the nonprofit organizations that provide services to Dunkirk families and students.”

Event sponsors included DFT Communications, National Grid, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Personal Touch Food Service, Lions Club, KeyBank, Walmart, Save a Lot, the Waterfront Foundation and the Kosciuszko Club.

This year, haircuts were offered by local barbers, ice cream was provided by Wells, refreshments were provided by Refresco, and there were also hot dogs and snacks. Among the numerous entities that provided supplies to students, the Boys and Girls Club distributed about 200 backpacks on Monday.

One of the most popular parts of Monday’s event was a clown who made animals out of balloons for a long line of guests.

“Many thanks to everyone who pitches in and helps,” said Mansfield. “…We hope we have a great school year and can repeat it.”

As with all community events, Siracuse paused and savored the moment as hundreds filled the park. Siracuse was proud of the coordination of the event as a whole, including the City of Dunkirk’s willingness to support an event like Monday’s. “It proves why I want to raise my children in this community,” said Syracuse.