Tucson Electric Power is reaching out to customers at back-to-school events, where employees will set up games, give away energy-efficient prizes and provide school supplies and clothing.
Energy efficiency experts will invite attendees to play Plinko for fidget spinners and other prizes and give away LED bulbs at this upcoming celebration:
July 29: Kid’z Expo and Back to School 2017, El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road. The event is hosted by Arizona Bilingual News and will include free backpacks for kids.
On July 15, TEP participated in the Ward 4 Back to School Bash at the William Clement Recreation Center.
Volunteers are participating in other events to help limited-income children prepare for the new school year, which begins in August on most campuses.
“For some, going back to school means a real stretch on the family budget,” said Katie Ferencik, TEP’s Community Relations Coordinator. “Through these events, we can help ease the burden on families and ensure that children arrive to their classes worrying about only one thing: learning.”
The two events are:
July 29: The Badges and Backpacks event, sponsored by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department Auxiliary, has a goal of giving away backpacks and school supplies to 2,000 children at the Tucson Convention Center.
Aug. 5: El Rio Community Health Center, 839 W. Congress St., is giving free immunizations, eye screenings and dental checkups at a back-to-school event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free backpacks and shoe vouchers will be given to the first 200 children. TEP is one of the sponsors.
On July 15, TEP employee volunteers helped out at The Salvation Army back-to-school shopping spree, which provided $100 for each participating child to buy new clothing, shoes and supplies from JCPenney at El Con Mall.
In June, TEP employees began their summer outreach to families at the Tucson Kidsfest Powered by TEP at the Tucson Convention Center.
TEP staged two booths: a Parents Zone and a Kids Zone. Children participated in “electrifying” activities, learned about electricity and played games, while adults relaxed and got massages in their area.
Kidsfest included performances by Disney Channel stars Debby Ryan of “Jessie” and Peyton List of “Bunk’d,” as well as games and shows.
