Clark County family resource center coordinators are preparing to kick off the school year on the right foot with the 20th annual Readifest Friday night at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

According to Justice Elementary FRC coordinator Eva Miller, the school supply festival, done at BCTC in coordination with the college’s final Moonlight Movie Night, has seen increased attendance every consecutive year.

“The average for the last two years has been about 1,000 people,” Miller said.

Prior to the FRCs’ partnership with BCTC, Readifest was hosted at College Park. She said the addition of a family-centered movie night to the program has helped to increase attendance.

“There’s more family fun activities other than just having an event to give out school supplies,” Strode Station FRC coordinator Rosalinda Gay said. “Having an extra event always helps.”

Following Readifest, attendees can stay on BCTC’s campus to watch “The Lego Batman Movie” beginning at dark.

Beginning at 7 p.m., visitors can stop by vendors’ booths to pick up various school supplies, from pencils to folders and coloring supplies.

Miller said the most recent count shows about 50 vendors, some businesses and some community organizations, have registered to take part in this year’s Readifest.

In return for bringing school supplies to pass out to students, the vendors have their $25 vendor fee waived by BCTC.

Parking passes for vendors can be acquired through Bruce Manley, BCTC campus director, at (859) 737-3098.

Robert D. Campbell Jr. High FRC coordinator Martina Hensley said Readifest is important even though a policy change from the CCPS Board of Education eliminated the need for supply lists sent to parents at the beginning of the school year.

“(Families) still need to come meet the community agencies in Clark County,” Hensley said. “And they can use those school supplies for homework and to take home with them.”

Gay added that Readifest will also offer students backpacks paid for by an anonymous donor, something students will not be able to get at their schools.

The FRCs will also be raffling off several Kindle Fires to those in attendance.

Gay said the coordinators appreciate the work various community organizations have put into making sure resources are available for families who need help getting school supplies. She added that any families who can not make it to Readifest will be able to get resources they need through their school’s FRC.