Duncan Back-to-School 2025: Building Community and Supporting Local Families

SEAHEC coordinated its first-ever Back-to-School event in Duncan, Greenlee County — marking a milestone for a rural area where no similar event had ever been held. Hosted at Duncan   Elementary School, the event brought together local agencies, community organizations, and families to celebrate the start of a new school year and provide meaningful support to students and parents.

More than 500 students and 250 adults attended, receiving essential supplies including          backpacks, notebooks, lunchboxes, pencils, coloring books, and reading materials. New clothing, shoes, and emotional support items like fidgets were also distributed. Students had access to health services such as eye exams, wound care demonstrations, and vouchers for sports physicals and clothing. To top it all off, families enjoyed a free community meal—hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks—graciously prepared and donated by local first responders.

Promotion for the event reached families across Duncan and surrounding towns—including nearby communities in New Mexico—with flyers distributed through schools, food pantries,     libraries, and local businesses, along with posts shared on social media and mailed registration packets. The welcoming atmosphere was made possible by Duncan School District teachers, the Greenlee County Health Department, and a wide network of community partners who hosted resource tables.

SEAHEC distributed over 500 supply kits, thanks to generous support from the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southern Arizona, who also donated additional backpacks, educational materials, and even four bicycles for student raffles. Community partners like Canyonlands Community Health Center, the Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office, Youth Probation Department, and local libraries joined forces to make the event a success.

Community feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One school board member shared, “Never have I seen so many parents and students so happy to attend a school function. Thank you, SEAHEC, for all the great information and dedication to this county.”

Leading the effort was Carolina, SEAHEC’s Community Health Worker, who organized the event from start to finish—coordinating donations, managing logistics, and ensuring that leftover supplies continued to reach families who couldn’t attend. Her dedication, along with the support of the Duncan Elementary principal and local partners, ensured this first-time event was not only successful but deeply impactful.

The event strengthened community connections, eased financial burdens for community families, and promoted health, education, and unity. We’re proud to share that Duncan Elementary has already invited SEAHEC back next year—same time, same place—to continue this incredible community tradition. Stay tuned for more!