ALLIANCE: The 17th Annual Community Backpack Raffle takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Church of the Friends of the Alliance.
There will be more than 800 backpacks and school supplies available. Students, parents and guardians can attend and receive materials at no cost.
“If you think you need it, come get it,” said Elizabeth Penird, one of the organizers of the event. “It doesn’t matter where you are financially in life.”
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Penird said there is no reason to rush the event to 10am for fear of missing items. “We’re not going to sell out,” he said.
Penird said the giveaway is not a trick-or-treat-style event. Rather, supplies are tailored to individual grades. Students will not receive material they do not need for school.
“Let’s go by school supply lists,” he said.
In addition to school supplies, there will be bounce houses and other fun activities outside the church and free lunch at 1307 W. State. St.
“At the end of the event, at the last table, there will be lunch tickets,” Penird said.
He said the event involves more than 100 volunteers and at least 13 sponsors. The event is open to everyone. Students from Alliance, Marlington, Sebring and West Branch are welcome.
“We got people from Cleveland,” Penrid said.
Shawn Jackson, director of secondary education for Alliance City Schools, said the backpack giveaway has had a “tremendous impact on our community each year” and district officials are “proud to be a sponsor of the event “.
“Our community partnerships are invaluable in helping our students succeed, and the backpack giveaway is no exception,” Jackson said. “We see our community come together to support students, and their education means the world to us.”
Penird said the only requirement is that parents or guardians fill out a form at the event that includes the child’s name, school and grade.
“This is my absolute favorite day of the year,” she said. “The look on the kids’ faces when they come and see thousands of backpacks … it’s worth it.
“We want them to come (to school) confident that they have all the materials they need to start school.”
Contact Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.
if you go
WHERE – Alliance Friends Church, 1307 W. State. St., Alliance.
WHEN – 10 a.m. at 2 pm on Saturday.
WHAT – Free backpack and school supplies, fun activities and lunch.
COST – Free.
