A Cherokee County nonprofit organization expects to help children get necessary supplies and health screenings before they return to school in August.

Give a Kid a Chance plans to hand out about 3,000 book bags filled with school supplies during its annual Back To School Bash.

The bash will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, at First Baptist Canton at 1 Mission Point, and the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency's recreation center at 7545 Main St. in Woodstock.

Co-founder Cheryl Ruffer said the organization distributed 2,200 backpacks filled with supplies last year.

Ms. Ruffer said the need is growing, as economy just hasn't picked up.

"It seems like there are a lot of people in need," she said, adding the organization has seen growth in each of the past five years it has been existence.

Give a Kid a Chance gives school supplies, backpacks and other items for less-fortunate children in the community.

The community can help be a part of the effort by making donations.

School supplies needed for elementary, middle and high school-aged children are glue sticks, No. 2 and colored pencils, 24-count crayons, black and blue ink pens, scissors, highlighters, wide- and college-ruled notebook paper, three-ring binders and scientific calculators.

Also needed are new socks and underwear for children, hygiene items, school-appropriate clothing and shoes.

A full list of supplies needed is listed on the organization's website at www.giveakidachance.org.

To help raise money for its operations, the organization will conduct a garage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at 261 Breeze Hill Court in Canton.

For the bash, the organization also needs volunteers who can perform health screening on children.

Volunteers such as translators, hair stylists, optometrists, dentists and hygienists, audiologists and ear, nose and throat specialists all are welcome to sign up on the organization's website.

"What's nice is that it's all one-stop shopping," Ms. Ruffer said of the annual event.

Despite the recession, Ms. Ruffer said the organization hasn't been hit in the area of donations.

With a strong base of churches and businesses, Ms. Ruffer said the organization is well-staffed and in "pretty good shape."

"It's pretty much Cherokee County taking care of its own," she added.

That's the reason Mable Ferry said she decided to volunteer with the organization.

Ms. Ferry, a counselor at Hasty Elementary School in Canton, will help collect and distribute book bags at the July event.

Many students from Hasty attend the annual event and are given backpacks and other items to prepare them for school, she said.

Seeing the faces of the Hasty students when they receive the supplies, she said, is priceless.

"It makes your whole day," she said.