Ringing in the new school year with the Back to School Bash

Mayzie Bruening picks up backpacks in the assembly line at Friday's annual Back to School Bash. Press photos by Kate Hayden

Mackenzie Wilson, an incoming senior at Charles City High School, organized the collection of about 200 pairs of shoes to give away for free at Friday's event.

Volunteers prepare to hand out mountains of notebooks and loose-leaf paper for families that waited up to two hours before the event's start.

Families check out the line of new or gently worn shoes at Friday's event.