With school starting Aug. 20, families with students find themselves right in the middle of a whirlwind. The to-do list has been made a bit easier by the Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 11 at the Lake Wales Health Dept., students entering prekindergarten through seventh grade can get physicals and shots free of charge that day, said Lake Wales Charter Schools Health Services and Homeless Liaison Paula Alford.

The event is a true community effort, Alford said, with First Baptist and Christ Central churches teaming up to provide backpacks and school supplies to hand out, Lake Wales Medical Center and Florida’s Natural providing water and juice, and the Polk County Health Department providing the facility, immunizations and staff. The Care Center and the Lake Wales Free Clinic are assisting as well, Alford said.