It was like a closeout sale at Staples … only all the items were free.

Three hundred children, their parents and relatives, along with dozens of volunteers, flocked to the Marylouise Tandy Cowan Field House at the YMCA on August 18 for the second annual Set for Success event, where donated school supplies and other items and services were given away.

Set for Success, part of the Boothbay Region Community Resources' line-up of charitable offerings, has been organized by Sue Burge for the past two years. However, Burge is not one to take all the credit for the success of the event.

“It exceeded our expectations,” said Burge. “Thanks to all the volunteers, it went very, very well.

“Evelyn Andrews at Hannaford went nuts. She went to corporate and got all that food (they had two tables full of food that could feed an army) and she took it upon herself to gather many raffle prizes for the event,” said Burge.

The volunteer hairdressers and manicurists were kept busy as children were waiting patiently to get their hair “spiffed up” for the school year.

Burge said that the representatives from FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) reported handing out 75 packets of information to families interested in signing up for the NextGen scholarship program.

“The Southport Island Association donated money to provide the island's children with NextGen scholarships and we have enough donations where we will be able to offer scholarships for about 22 other children. We will be checking with the schools to find out the next steps in offering the scholarships,” said Burge.

Burge praised book publisher Charlie Baker and his wife, Rosalie, for donating their line of children's history magazines. She also praised the representatives from the local dentist offices who showed up and the representative from Lamey Wellahan, who dropped off two car loads of shoes.

“And Cheryl Lorrain provided her Dresses for Princesses. She was so excited to be there,” said Burge.

“We couldn't have done it without all the volunteers who manned the school supply stations,” said Burge. “Larry Brown (Boothbay Harbor police officer) said it was the most amazing event he had ever experienced.”

Burge wished to thank The First Bank for kick-starting the event by collecting items at the Boothbay Harbor branch and collecting $3,200 in donations for purchasing school supplies.

“There are so many different facets to this event. The teachers are very thankful as they would have to take money out of their own pockets to pay for students' supplies. The parents are thankful and this community always steps up to the plate to help,” said Burge. “Hopefully, we can do a repeat performance next year.”

Burge said that representatives from a couple of communities, Wiscasset and Waldoboro, have inquired about starting a similar project for their children.