Before the main event on Sunday, Aug. 18, Sue Burge, who has planned and organized each of eight Set For Success events at the Boothbay Region YMCA, said she was pleased that the event’s first-ever prelude — a free barbecue lunch — was well attended and helped speed up the process of people waiting to pick up school supplies.

“This is working well,” said Burge, who stood at the doorway to the Y gym greeting people. “This saves the people from waiting long in the hot sun to get into the event.”

As people filtered in, kids could be heard joyfully jumping in a bounce house, DJ Calvin Crocker was playing songs, as was a guitarist, and several volunteers — including interim Boothbay Harbor Town Manager Julia Latter and Boothbay Town Manager Dan Bryer — were handing out food in the cafeteria-style setup. Outside, Bill Burge (Sue’s son), Scott Larson, Tom Chryplewicz and Keith Laser took care of grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs. 

As hundreds of people waited in line both inside and outside the field house where over two dozen organizations set up displays and gave away information and “free stuff,” dozens of volunteers were still organizing the school supply tables for grades k-8. The community organizations were set up on the south half of the field house and the long line of tables filled with school supplies were on the north half and part of the south half.

The sheer amount of people did cause some long lines but the volunteers worked diligently to move the students and their parents, grandparents and guardians as fast as possible from 1 to 3 p.m.

“Sue and her helpers do such a great job,” said Boothbay Harbor Police Officer Larry Brown. “It is an amazing undertaking.”

Tom Davis, who was there with his daughter, Kennedy, was attending for the first time.

“Is this the normal turnout,” he asked this reporter, who has attended half of the Set For Success events.

“I think this year has to at least match the busiest one I’ve seen.”

Though the official numbers have not been tallied, Burge always gets enough supplies for around 800 students each year.