Bradenton's Nicole Figueroa, who is 11, and Abdiel Figueroa, who is 8, show off the school supplies they received during the Back to School Bash.
Photo by Liz Ramos
East County
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East County's Mallorie Johnson and her husband, Michael Johnson, took their 5-year-old Quinn throughout the Mall at University Town Center collecting school supplies and learning about various resources in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
They stopped at Sarasota Jungle Gardens' table so Quinn could pet an alligator during the mall's Back to School Bash on Aug. 5.
"She's having a blast," Mallorie Johnson said. "We're getting everything we need for school."
Families were able to get free backpacks and school supplies while meeting characters such as Mario and Princess Peach, Barbie, Dora the Explorer and Ms. Frizzle from "The Magic School Bus."
Lakewood Ranch's Peyton Brown and Abrianna Williams meet Barbie.
Photo by Liz Ramos
East County 5-year-old Quinn Johnson is careful while holding an alligator from Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Venice's Nate Martin and Christian Dunn, who are both 10, receive free backpacks during the Back to School Bash at the Mall at UTC.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Chris Fontana with Steel Ring Academy shows his sword to East County's Matthew Servetz, who is 5.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch 9-year-old Ella Macklefresh is excited to meet the Nutcracker. She collects nutcrackers.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch's Abbey Granata, who is 9, and her mother, Denise Granata, and Sarasota's Melanie Petty and her 9-year-old daughter Colette Petty collect school supplies and goodies at the Back to School Bash.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Webb's Wildlife owner Britney Webb holds Gimli, a bearded dragon, as Bradenton 8-year-old London Thacker and Palmetto 6-year-old Olivia Mancusi pet him.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Sarasota's Dagmar Rodriguez and 6-year-old Alessandra Perez are ready for the new school year.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Bradenton's Nicole Figueroa, who is 11, and Abdiel Figueroa, who is 8, show off the school supplies they received during the Back to School Bash.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Sarasota's Jazmine Akal, who is 9, has a dragon painted on her face. "I really like dragons, and I usually have dreams about them," she says.
Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.
