Hawaiian Falls hosts school supply drive

Hawaiian Falls waterparks in Roanoke, Mansfield and Waco as well as Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie are hosting Back-to-School Supply Drives through Aug. 9 to help local students begin the new school year prepared for the classroom.

Families with students in elementary through high school expect to spend an average of $863.86 on back-to-school purchases this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Total spending is projected to reach a record $43.3 billion. Among shoppers who have not purchased at least half of the items they need, 46% are waiting for the best deals and 23% are spreading out their purchases to manage household budgets.

Each Hawaiian Falls park is collecting supplies for an organization serving families in its local community:

Hawaiian Falls Roanoke: Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE)

Hawaiian Falls Mansfield: Mansfield ISD Clothes Closet

Hawaiian Falls Waco: Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie: Lifeline for Families, Inc.

“Back-to-school expenses add up quickly, and every donated item can make a difference for a local family,” said Ron Mckenzie, director of marketing for Hawaiian Falls. “This drive gives our guests an easy way to help students start the school year prepared while enjoying another summer day together at Hawaiian Falls or Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”

Guests who donate a minimum of five qualifying school-supply items will receive admission for $10. Five items are required for each discounted ticket. Children age 2 and younger are admitted free.

Requested supplies include:

1-inch three-ring binders

24-count crayons

Backpacks

Block erasers

Colored pencils

Composition books

Construction paper, 9-by-12 inches, 100 count or fewer

Eight-tab dividers

Folders with pockets and brads

Glue bottles

Highlighters

Index cards, 100 count

Manila paper, 9-by-12 inches, 100 count

Markers, 10 count

Notebook paper, wide-ruled, 100 count

Pencil pouches

Pencil sharpeners

Rulers

Safety scissors

Scientific calculators

Single-subject spiral notebooks, wide-ruled

Watercolors

Hawaiian Falls will operate daily through Aug. 11. The parks will then be open Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 13. Operating dates and hours may vary by location. Guests are encouraged to check hfalls.com before visiting.