The 2nd Annual Back to School Bash Was a Community Event, Brought by the Community East Wheeling Cooperative

| Sunday, August 23, 2026 | Tunnel Green

The 2nd Annual Back to School Bash is in the books, and it was a complete success.

We could not be happier to help put supplies in kids' hands and send them into the school year with some real energy behind them. Over 500 book bags went out. School supplies, food, bounce houses, and Dupe's Scoops ice cream — courtesy of Taylor's Preowned Autos — filled Tunnel Green all afternoon. Everything free with a child present, exactly the way we said it would be.

But the part we want people to sit with is this: this was a community event, brought by the community.

Nobody parachuted in to fix East Wheeling. The sponsors were local businesses. The volunteers were neighbors, family, and kids who showed up to work. The drop-off sites were shops on our own blocks. The board members were out there setting up, breaking down, cooking, organizing, and cutting hair.

That's the whole point. There is life in this community. When we come together, this is what we can accomplish.

What the day looked like

• 500+ book bags and school supplies handed out

• Free food all day

• Bounce houses and games for the kids

• Free Dupe's Scoops ice cream

• Free haircuts through Moor Cutz Global

• The debut of the East Wheeling Clothing Closet

• Neighbors talking to neighbors — which might be the thing that lasts longest

Special recognition

A big shout-out to Shaquille McCammick for featuring the Bash on the news and helping us promote the event. Getting the word out matters as much as the work itself.

Thank you to Olivia Olitman and the Wheeling Convention & Visitors Bureau, and to the City of Wheeling for being gracious and helping us pull this off. Having the city as a real partner in this work is invaluable.

Two people deserve extra credit by name:

Tysheik Bey of Moor Cutz Global was left to cut over 30 heads in one day by himself. He never complained and he never stopped — and Duncan Waitts showed up to help him out when he saw what was happening. That's community.

Daniel Pearson of Movers 4 You did a huge amount of organizing, promoting, and working the event. A lot of what you saw on Sunday only happened because he stayed on it.

Our Board of Directors

Daniel Pearson Sr. · Danielle Cunningham · Tisha Terry · Duncan Waitts · Raymond Prayear · Harry Pugh · Tonya Woody · Dondie Williams · Jeremile Alexander Sr.

Our Sponsors

• Corey Taylor — Taylor's Preowned Autos

• Luke Dulpga — Dupe's Scoops

• The Detail Guys — Tylan Mayo

• Antuan Murphy — Big A's Kitchen

• Faygo — Faygo's Street Corn

• Harry Pugh — Cartier Transportation

• Northern Panhandle Pipe & Supply — Community Builder Sponsor

• The City of Wheeling — Community Builder Sponsor — and Councilwoman Connie Cain

• Robert Wiley — PristineCrete

• Greg's Tattooing

• Tysheik Bey — Moor Cutz Global

• Daniel Pearson — Movers 4 You

• Pete Holloway

• Brothers & Friends Contracting

Our Volunteers

Jeremile Alexander Jr. · Dremar Shaw · Nya & Dyzha Waitts · Jaynee LeAnn · Allison Dawn · Nicole Saunders · Sylvia Alexander · Zakee Young · Rita Walker · Tina Pearson · Missy Williams · Wanda Morgan

Drop-Off Locations

Thank you to the businesses that let us park a collection box in their lobby for weeks:

Moor Cutz · Silver Rail · Elm Hurst · Greg's Tattooing · Taylor's Preowned Autos

Shoe Donations

Ron Scott Jr. · Dondie Williams · Lorenzo Clark · RJ Saunders

In-Kind Donations & Partners

Kroger · United Dairy · Elle & Jack's and Ave Eats · Rikk Diamond, Tilted Toilet Contracting · Moor Cutz · Mrs. Wanda Morgan and the Women's Group · Ohio County Sheriff's Office · Scouting America · North Park Head Start · Jebbias

What's next

We have a lot planned going forward to help rebuild and revitalize our communities. The Bash is one day. The work is year-round — the Clothing Closet, BUILD, RESTORE, the Apprenticeship Program, and the Heritage & Vision Forum are all moving.

We look forward to serving, and we welcome others to join us.

If you want in — as a sponsor, a volunteer, a partner, or a neighbor with an idea — reach out.

East Wheeling Cooperative 514 S Front St, Wheeling, WV 26003 eastwheelingco.org