The Helianthus Project Back-to-School event

The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year.

Photos by Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Rachel McBride, founder of The Helianthus Project, welcomes families to the nonprofit’s inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Ladies of the Auxiliary of AMVETS give school supplies to families during The Helianthus Project’s inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug.1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Ladies of the Auxiliary of AMVETS give school supplies to families during The Helianthus Project’s inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug.1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Helianthus Project held its inaugural Back-to-School event on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The event provided school supplies and community resources to close to 250 children as students prepared for the upcoming school year. Amber Hewitt/The Island News