VIDALIA — As summer nears its end, a number of families gathered Saturday for one last hurrah.

Around lunchtime, the Resource Center, a community building in Vidalia, buzzed with the sound of children grabbing hot dogs, drinks and chips at an event organizers said was aimed at doing something positive for local school children before summer ended.

The free meal also served as a chance for residents to come together as a community and pick up free school supplies on the second to last weekend before school starts in the Concordia Parish School District on Aug. 10.

Cassandra Lynch came up with the idea. She told Windell Millicks, who is on the board for the Concordia Youth and Adult Community Association, about her idea to do something for the children before school started.

He pointed her to Willie Dunbar, CYACA’s president.

“They offered the building (the Resource Center) because it was a community affair,” Lynch said.

Dunbar said the type of activity isn’t new to CYACA.

“Every year we always do a little something for the kids before they go back to school,” Dunbar said.

As more children and parents came in, Lynch made several trips to the back of the Center to fetch more hot dogs.

“We’re just trying to bring our community together,” Lynch said.

While everyone chowed down, Dunbar passed out bags of school supplies, which were donated. The bags were filled with paper, pencils and an assortment of other supplies.

Jaden White, the 5-year-old son of Gina White and Matthew O’Neal, said he was there with his aunt, Barbara White.

Jaden said he spent his summer doing what most children his age do.

“Playing,” Jaden said.

His aunt, who teaches physical education at Vidalia Lower Elementary where her nephew will attend kindergarten, said they’re both excited about getting back to school.

“He’s real excited to go into kindergarten,” Barbara White said.

Later, Lt. Frank Duson, the vice president of CYACA and a member of the Vidalia Police Department, and Vidalia Police Chief Arthur Lewis spoke about safety and respect in the community for children and parents.

“My main focus is, and it always has been, the well-being of the children,” Duson said.

When the event was over, children left with full stomachs and a head start on their school supply list.