The summer is winding down and the dipnets are being traded for backpacks. As the beginning of the school year approaches, volunteers from Peninsula Community Health Services have teamed up with the Student Ambassador Program at the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce to create KidFest, a free community event that will promote health and safety for the kids while also providing basic school supplies.

KidFest will take place on Saturday at the Peninsula Center Mall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Marquitta Andrus, manager of marketing and outreach at PCHS, said that about 15 vendors will have booths set up with games and educational activities, and a number of prizes will be given away, including two new bikes for a lucky boy and girl.

Every kid in attendance will receive a “report card” that they can get stamped at each of the different booths. After filling out their report card, the first 200 kids will receive a free backpack provided by Sweeney’s Clothing and filled with school supplies. The completed report card also acts as the raffle ticket to win a new bike.

Some of the activities will include car seat and bike helmet checks, a scavenger hunt, a vision test given by Frontier Community Services and a selfie booth hosted by the student ambassadors. Local public safety agencies, including the Soldotna Police Department and Central Emergency Services, will be giving demonstrations on how to stay safe during the school year, and the food bank will be giving away raffle tickets in exchange for two nonperishable food items.

“This is a great opportunity for the people at PCHS to get out there with the community and make sure the kids are returning to school healthy and safe,” Andrus said.

Anyone interested in learning more about KidFest or donating to PCHS can visit their website at https://www.pchsak.org.