Head 2 Toe Hoilday Bazaar

Head 2 Toe’s second annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday will raise funds to tackle back to school needs in San Marcos. 

This Holiday Bazaar features local artisans, refreshments, pictures with Santa, crafts for kids and holiday tunes for a fun day of holiday shopping. 

Head 2 Toe, a local organization designed to provide needed back to school resources for underserved children in San Marcos CISD, plans to raise enough funds to expand their program, according to committee member Kristan Alvarez. 

“Last year we raised over $5,000 and we helped 311 children," Alvarez said. "This year we want to help 400 kids.” 

Children are identified by liaisons within the district's schools based on factors such as need, income and family situation, and families are encouraged to apply.  

“It doesn’t have to be low income, you could just be going through a divorce, or lose a job," Alvarez said. "Just come to us and let us know your situation and we would love to help.” 

Head 2 Toe has three fundraisers each year, which ends with the annual bazaar. Alvarez said they hope to attract more attendees to this year's bazaar.

“We had 200 attendees at the last bazaar, and this year we’ll have 50 vendors," Alvarez said. "I want to see it grow a little bit.”

The name Head 2 Toe describes the type of help students receive. 

“It’s not just school supplies it’s literally head to toe. It’s hygiene packets, dental care kits donated from dentists. For high schoolers we do deodorant, razors and all their school supplies," Alvarez said. "For middle school we do hygiene packets, clothes, shoes. For middle school we go all the way down.”

 The day of the distribution event, Head 2 Toe gets everything organized in a central location. They recommend families bring the children to pick out their own backpacks and receive services. Children’s items are separated by gender, size of clothes and shoes. Children go through each station, collecting school supplies based on needs for each grade and other needed items. At one station, 10 local hair stylists donate haircut services to give children the confidence to return to school. The final station is where the students write letters to thank the donors. 

“One of the kids was so excited to get a new backpack," Alvarez said. "It was so sad because my son gets new backpacks, clothes, new shoes like 10 times a year, you know what I mean? And for me to see a little boy get a new backpack, it was very touching.”

The Holiday Bazaar will take place Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at VFW Post 3413, 1703 Hunter Rd.