Nearly 1,400 people gathered at the Lakehills Community Center this weekend as Hill Country Samaritans and Bandera ISD hosted the annual Back to School Bash, providing school supplies, free health services and family activities ahead of the start of the new school year.

The event served approximately 700 students, each receiving a backpack filled with school supplies to help prepare for the first day of classes.

More than 100 volunteers spent weeks organizing donations, packing backpacks and preparing activities before welcoming families from across Bandera County.