BELHAVEN — Students in eastern Beaufort County started school with the supplies they needed, thanks to an idea from one Belhaven resident.

Kisha Moore said she has always had a passion for children, and that was the motivation behind organizing a back-to-school cookout last Saturday in front of the Belhaven Boys & Girls Club.

“It was basically for the community kids in Belhaven,” Moore said. “Just to give them something to do the last weekend before school started.”

About 50 children from the community came out for food, games and to stock up on free school supplies. The event, open to anyone who wanted to come, was made possible through donations and the money raised from an earlier Krispy Kreme fundraiser, Moore said.

“If you start off good, you will end up and have a good year,” she said. “I came up with the idea, and I had the help of others throughout the community.”

Moore said she wanted to be a positive role model for the children to encourage them before the upcoming school year and also show them the benefits of working hard in school.

“I have a passion of working with kids and kind of showing them a better way to life,” she said.

With the tools they need, Moore hopes the students can start off the year on a good note, setting the tone for success in the classroom.

Moore said she hopes to make the back-to-school cookout an annual event.