Columbia small businesses give back at community back-to-school events Sunday
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
K-12 students were leaving the Armory Sports and Recreation Center and Cosmo Park with backpacks, sharp pencils, and even sharper hairstyles Sunday after two local Columbia businesses hosted two back-to-school events.
This year marked the 5th annual Renz Blendz Barbershop event at the rec center and the first-ever Broadway Hair Company event at Cosmo Park. While both events were separate, the organizers had the same mission: to prepare students for school, even if that meant through the confidence of a fresh haircut.
“A simple haircut just really elevates your confidence,” Owner of Broadway Hair Company Morgan Boyles said, “Being able to give a student a haircut right before school starts, you can imagine how that can help them on their first day.”
Along with haircuts, both events also had school supplies, backpacks, and new clothes. The Renz Blendz event also had new sneakers and provided braiding and nail polish for visitors.
“It’s just a boost of self-confidence and every kid gets to go back feeling special, and feeling good, looking good,” Second-time Renz Blendz volunteer Shaina Luvlee said.
Broadway Hair Company had children’s books and board games, and held a gift card giveaway.
This comes as some parents are feeling the strain on their wallet from rising school supplies prices.
According to the National Retail Federation, total expected spending for K-12 students this year is up by around $600,000 from 2024. The NRF also reported that families budget most for electronics, followed by clothes then shoes.
Deloitte found that the average expected cost for students is $570 per child for the 2025 school year.
All items available at the events, including the food, were donated or sold by local businesses in the community.
“This is a light that I think that the community really needs right now,” Boyles said. “No matter what the world is going through, we can still come together at the end of the day, especially for our children.”
Columbia Public School District’s Jump-Start Day for 6th and 9th grade students is Monday with the rest of the students beginning classes on Tuesday.