Volunteer Julie Fowler explained that the event will feature an hour-long ride throughout the area for bikers and day-long festivities for non-bikers.
"We will have door prizes, we will have music with several bands and a music school will have students there, so we'll actually have kids playing [music as well]," Fowler said.
She said there will be about 20 to 30 door prizes available, ranging from tools to restaurant gift cards. There also will be games for children and sack lunches available.
"This is our first time to try [a motorcycle ride]. ... And we're really looking forward to helping all these children out," Fowler said.
Terry Terrell, co-director for BGAKAC, explained there are about 70 counties statewide participating in Give a Kid a Chance. About four years ago, Terrell's son, Miles Terrell, helped spearhead the local movement as an Eagle Scout project, but last year the program came to fruition as BGAKAC.
"It's basically the same type program, we've just multiplied the kids," Terrell said. "Last year we [provided services to] a thousand kids; this year we're planning on 2,000 kids."
Terrell added, "We're raising money for the back-to-school program for [Bartow] Give a Kid a Chance. [Bartow Give a Kid a Chance] is not just a [free] backpack [for students], it's a full-blown program for these kids that are at risk in Bartow County exclusively to get back to school basically on the same foot as all the other students."
The back-to-school event will be held July 31 and will provide at three different locations backpacks, school supplies, a pair of pants, a T-shirt and access to free haircuts, dental, vision and hearing screenings to qualified and registered students.
Terrell explained students who participate in the countywide Cartersville schools' summer nutrition program are targeted for participation in BGAKAC and qualified participants are contacted before registration. Registration for the event will be held July 9.
"There are so many children in our own county," Fowler said. "We're looking at 2,000 [students] to supply book bags to this year, and you just don't think of that many [in need] in your own backyard."
Terrell said BGAKAC is a collaborative effort between businesses, churches and civic organizations throughout Bartow County.
"Everything we have is through donations and volunteers," Terrell said. "We know that these times are really tough and fundraising is tough this year because of the tornados, but we believe that these kids -- especially up in that area of Crowe Springs -- they're going to need it more than they did in the past."
Registration for the ride begins at 9 a.m. and the first 200 people to register receive T-shirts. The cost is $25 per bike with an additional $10 per additional rider.