Smiles, laughter, school supplies and cotton candy ruled the day as more than 350 children from the families of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) attended the second annual Back to School Night Aug 10 on Joint Base Lewis McChord.

The free event was planned and coordinated by the family readiness support assistants from each of the battalions.

Local vendors donated time and resources contributing to the successful event, said Stephanie Roe, the 1st SFG family readiness support assistant.

The family assistants from each battalion collected school supply lists from the different schools on and around the base and then purchased school supplies to provide for the 1st SFG families with school age children.

“As school supplies get more expensive and families have more children, we want to make sure we can help the families of the 1st Group,” Roe said. “Back to School Night features agencies and organizations that want to help.

“They were all eager to provide support to the families of the 1st Group.”

In addition to the free school supplies, there was entertainment including a popular ice-cream making demonstration utilizing liquid nitrogen to freeze the cream.

Families enjoyed food and drinks provided by the United Service Organizations.

Additionally, Veterans United provided school supplies and assisted in their distribution.

“My children really enjoyed the ice cream making show put on by Sub Zero and they definitely enjoyed getting to eat it at the end,” said Evangleen Dech, a mother of two, who attended the event. “It’s a great event, and a big help because the school supply lists come out pretty last minute and it’s not enough time to go gather it all.”

The Yelm Police Department, representing the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne’s) community connector city, provided school supplies, an officer and patrol car.

Children lined up to tour the service vehicle and for the chance to try its siren.

“We had an outpouring of help from the group, families and outside organizations like Special Forces Association and other agencies within the installation and the community,” Roe said.