Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd will hand out 150 free “sackpacks” with school supplies to students on Saturday at the Meridian Youth Farmers Market.
Families and children, especially those in grades K-3, who need the supplies are encouraged to pick one up. Only one per person will be distributed.
The event is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Meridian City Hall, 33 E. Broadway Ave.
The mayor and city of Meridian were chosen to receive the sackpacks as part of the National Backpack Program, in partnership with the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) and the Office Depot Foundation.
“Going back to school should be an exciting time for children, as it usually means brand new back to school supplies,” De Weerd said in a prepared statement. “I chose to participate in this program with the NFWL as a way to help families where money can be tight, especially during this time of year.”
Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation helped more than 4 million children since the National Backpack Program began in 2001, according to a press release from the city of Meridian. The NFWL joined the effort in 2006.
“Our goal in providing this program to our elected women is to equip them to further serve every member of the community they represent,” stated National Foundation for Women Legislators Executive Director Jody Thomas. “These children are the future of our country and not only are we able to set them up to succeed in school and compete in an ever-competitive job market once they grow older, they’re given a sense of hope and a peace of mind.”
The sackpacks come in seven kid-friendly designs. Each colorful sackpack includes a zippered pouch containing a ruler, four crayons, a pen, a pencil, a pencil sharpener and an eraser, along with coupons from local businesses.