As the school year rapidly approaches, various members of the Suffolk community are doing what they can to get underprivileged children prepared for the year.

Among these groups is T.C.S., which will host a community event on Sunday, Aug. 17.

The T.C.S. Boyz and Girlz Fourth Annual Community Explosion event will feature an adult softball tournament, a children’s kickball tournament, a D.J., food, music, and a car and bike show. The event’s car and bike show is close to the hearts of T.C.S., a motorcycle-riding club based in Suffolk.

T.C.S. stands for “The Chop Shop,” the name of a downtown Suffolk barbershop. The owner of the barbershop, Rarsan Barnes, is a founding member of the club, and all of the members are customers at his barbershop.

T.C.S. has hosted this community event in various capacities for the last three years.

“We’re always thinking of ways to give back,” said LaTroy Brinkley, the organization’s business manager. The event serves as a way for the club to display passions for their bikes and the sport of softball, but it also makes sure that children are prepared for school.

Children that attend the event are given a bookbag fully stocked with pencils, paper, notebooks and other school supplies for the coming year. “We make sure every kid is equipped to go to school,” Brinkley stated.

According to information from Brinkley, the club gives away between 200 and 300 fully-stocked backpacks a year. “And we grow every year. We get the word out through advertisements on the radio, social media and word of mouth.”

The efforts by the club help the community’s less-privileged children, Brinkley said.

“We get a lot of positive feedback,” he said. “A lot of people say, ‘If it weren’t for you, we don’t know how we would get back to school.’”

The focus of the event is the softball tournament, where men’s teams can enter by paying $100 plus $50 worth of school supplies. There will also be a children’s kickball tournament, a new addition this year, between the Suffolk housing complexes, which comes at no charge to the participants. To participate, the children must be signed up in the complex offices.

Aside from the games, there will be a car and bike show and a “bass-off” judged by Underground Sounds. There is a $20 registration fee for the car show, $10 for bikes, and $15 for the bass-off. A trophy will be given to the winner in each category.

Brinkley admits that organizing the event is difficult. “It’s not easy,” he said, “We have about 18 members, and each is requested to come out and help us.”

The event will be held at John F. Kennedy Middle School, 2325 E. Washington St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17. For more information, call club president Charles Boone at 556-0468.