Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages gives Dallas kids in need supplies for new school year

Ish Arebalos has helped distribute free school supplies to thousands of kids in need at the Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair every single summer since 1996. “It’s very important to us,” says the director of public affairs, communications and sustainability for Dallas-based Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB). “It’s something that we really value, and we love giving back to our local communities as a corporate partner.”

CCSWB Sales Center Manager Dwayne Packer has also been volunteering at the fair for many years. “It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” Packer says. “Every year I see the joy on their faces as we hand them backpacks, school supplies and even laptops donated by CCSWB for students preparing for college. It’s a great reminder that even one simple act of kindness can make a big difference.”

CCSWB has co-sponsored the fair since the beginning. “It’s an honor to be a community partner to provide an abundance of educational tools to make sure the kids are ready for school,” Arebalos says. “When you see the faces of the young ladies and gentlemen who receive backpacks full of school supplies, as well as laptops to apply to college, it’s very impactful.”

Set for August 4 in Fair Park’s Centennial Hall and Automobile Building, the annual Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair, a collaboration between the mayor’s office, corporations, nonprofits and area schools, is expected to attract 30,000 attendees (10,000 children entering kindergarten through grade 12, as well as accompanying family members) seeking school supplies for the academic year.

During the event, more than 100 corporate sponsors, nonprofits, and city and state entities set up booths to dispense free pencils, erasers and other goodies, as well as information about education, health and social services. There’s also entertainment and a variety of activities. To qualify, families must meet 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines and live in Dallas County or have a student enrolled in Dallas Independent School District. Free haircuts, immunizations, and vision and dental screenings are also available to families that have preregistered.

As a long-time partner, CCSWB supports the fair in several ways. In addition to financial donations as a corporate sponsor, the company has given nearly 1,000 laptops for D-FW students over the past two years. This donation is part of an ongoing initiative by CCSWB to support Texas students in need: Since 2021, the company has donated nearly $3 million in laptop and computer technology across the state.

The company also hands out bottled water and drinks from its extensive lineup of beverages. This has been especially critical in past years when children and their families had to wait their turn outside in the heat. Though this year’s fair is designed to be entirely indoors, CCSWB volunteers will remain on-hand to greet guests with a Coke and a smile.

“We’ll have members of our leadership team and nearly two dozen volunteers out there, handing out laptops to students preparing for college, as well as providing beverages and water for all those attending to keep them hydrated,” Arebalos affirms.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and other dignitaries are scheduled to speak at the fair’s opening ceremonies at 7:30 a.m., and the event will serve about 2,000 students every hour from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair is personally meaningful to Johnson, who grew up in underserved communities in West Dallas and Oak Cliff. He attended a DISD elementary school through first grade, when he won a scholarship to Greenhill School in Addison.

“This family-friendly fair has become a beloved annual tradition here in Dallas,” Johnson says. “The fair’s continued success wouldn’t be possible without our generous partners and sponsors like Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, who devote their time and treasure to ensure all of our city’s children have what they need to learn and grow before the start of each new school year.”

CCSWB is also heralding the new school year by commissioning a work of art from Coppell-based artist and art teacher Elsa Reynolds. In commemoration of National Going Back to School Month, Reynold’s creation and a video about her work will be featured on CCSWB’s website as part of its 2023 Community Canvas project. Every month, the company showcases an artist in the territories it serves, which includes Texas and parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas.

As a company of Arca Continental, CCSWB’s initiatives are a part of Arca Continental’s global strategy to support local communities where associates live and work. This includes supporting local organizations through volunteer work, donations and financial support to create a better community — across Texas and beyond — for all.

“At CCSWB, it’s not just about giving back; it’s also about creating a more inclusive and supportive community,” Packer says. “I’m proud to work for a company that works to make our community a better place to live and work.”

For more information, visit cocacolaswb.com/communitycanvas and mayorsbacktoschoolfair.com.