The first Back to School Bash at Salem Elementary School took place over the weekend and the event’s chairwoman, Michelle Merchant, couldn’t be happier with the turnout.

“They were actually here at 10 and it wasn’t even supposed to start until 11,” she said. “That was awesome.”

Merchant, with help from others in the Orrville Community, rounded up sponsors for the event in order to ensure that the children of Orrville start the new school year on a positive note.

Merchant thanked her church family at Orrville First Baptist Church and Dallas County Commissioners Curtis Williams and Larry Nickles and Dallas County School Board Member Roy Edwards.

“It was really a community effort,” said Merchant.

According to Merchant, the idea for the community event stemmed from the smaller Back to School bash at her church.

“We’ve done a Back to School Bash at First Baptist for years, but it was just our members,” she said. “I really wanted to take that idea and extend it to the rest of the community.”

Merchant’s ultimate goal in organizing the event was rallying the community of Orrville together.

“Just look around,” she said. “To see everyone together means a lot. It really does.”

The first of what Merchant says will be many Back to School Bashes had many activities for the families in attendance to enjoy.

Children played on an inflatable bounce house and received free school supplies while the adults kept in the shade and enjoyed free food and drinks from the Pepsi Wagon.

In addition to all of the fun and games, attendees had the opportunity to hear from Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum and District Attorney Michael Jackson, who both delivered brief speeches earlier in the day.

Dallas County Schools Superintendent Hattie Shelton said that Salem’s Back to School Bash, and other events like it, are import to the students of Dallas County.

“Events like this let our students know that the community is behind them,” said Shelton. “I think that’s important for our children to know.”