MEIRS Annual Back to School Bash Featured On 13WGME.
We’re thrilled to share that MEIRS’s Annual Back to School Bash was featured in WGME’s recent coverage!
Our event—held on the evening of Friday, August 22, 2025, at Mike McGraw Field—was spotlighted by WGME’s Julia Simone, emphasizing both our joyful programming and the enhanced safety measures we implemented. The Bash, organized by Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services (MEIRS), drew families for a fun-filled evening with food, music, games, face painting, henna tattoos, a bouncy house, and the distribution of free backpacks and school supplies. Coming just one year after nearby gunfire disrupted the event, WGME highlighted how MEIRS collaborated with the Lewiston Police Department, with uniformed officers and beat officers present to ensure the night was not only fun—but safe.
As MEIRS Director Rilwan Osman shared, “We didn’t want to have the same thing this year. We want to have families come together and have fun.” coverage noted that the event ran smoothly, marking its fourth year, and MEIRS confirmed plans to host it again in 2026
Watch full story here: https://wgme.com/news/local/community-gathers-for-lewistons-back-to-school-bash-after-last-years-gunfire-scare
