FreeHelpCK wants to see every student in Chatham-Kent start the school year with everything they need.
The organization has already met its goal of handing out 1,500 backpacks through Operation Backpack and plans to hold one last donation event and one last giveaway to help surpass it.
On Thursday morning, August 29, Blackburn Media will partner up with FreeHelpCK to host two donation events. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., residents are encouraged to visit the CFCO/CKSY radio station building located at 117 Keil Drive South to drop off backpacks or school supplies.
Geri Ann Hughson, the founder of FreeHelpCK, said that they are looking for the same items they ask for every year:
backpacks
scissors
markers, dry-erase markers, highlighters, and pencil crayons
glue sticks
lined paper
rulers
Hughson said they will be handing out the last of the supplies on Friday, August 30 at the Downtown Chatham Centre from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
"No registration for this one," she said. "It's open to those who missed the past two [giveaways]."
She added that registration for backpacks was high this year, but that the community has stepped up and made even more donations than last year.
Over the last six years, Operation Backpack has distributed more than 5,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies.
