Kids Fair

The Annual Back-To-School Kids’ Fair is the current Junior League of Wheeling’s signature project. While the Kids’ Fair Committee plans and executes this community project, all active League members, as well as a number of volunteers, participate on event day.

Through the fair venue, the League provides backpacks and basic school supplies to approximately 1000 elementary students in Ohio County, WV. A festival atmosphere prevails as students visit various supply stations, interspersed between community recreation and service exhibitors. Students take advantage of free services, such as haircuts and health screenings and end their afternoon visit with snacks, games and activities in the fair’s Fun Zone.

Securing a venue, planning services and activities, communicating with community agencies, purchasing supplies, recruiting volunteers, raising funds, coordinating with the publicity and public relations committee and determining event-day logistics are all functions carried out by Kids’ Fair Committee members. The committee also cooperates with county school personnel to determine students’ needs and to coordinate school-based, pre-event publicity and volunteers.

Planning for the new fair year begins in the fall, when members meet to review the previous fair, set goals for the new year, and match the strengths and interests of committee members to the tasks ahead. The Kids’ Fair committee meets monthly, September through May, and may meet semi-monthly June through the August event date. Creative thinking, evaluation, and research skills will be utilized on this committee. Public speaking skills, planning, coordination, and organizing skills are key attributes. A desire to interact with the public and represent the JLW will also be helpful.