“When you’ve got four kids in school and trying to get supplies, this is a blessing,” one attendee said.
HOUSTON — With the first day of school just around the corner, thousands of families got a head start Saturday at one of Houston’s largest school supply giveaways.
The 15th Annual Mayor’s Back 2 School Fest returned to the George R. Brown Convention Center, offering free backpacks, school supplies, health screenings, and food for Houston-area students and their families. The one-day event aimed to help up to 20,000 elementary school students start the new school year strong.
KHOU 11 proudly served as a media partner for the event, with some of the station’s familiar faces, including meteorologist Chris Ramirez, greeting families at the KHOU 11 booth.
Inside the convention center, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and gratitude.
“Very important, considering we’re on a budget and we’re trying to watch our spending,” said Rolunda Baker, who attended the event with her three nieces. “This is very helpful and helps them be successful in school.”
Her oldest niece, Erin Crawford, who’s heading into sixth grade, said she’s both excited and nervous for the new school year, but feels more prepared now.
“Thank you for this because you’re giving me an opportunity to really bring my grades up,” she said.
The event wasn’t just about backpacks. Families were also able to take advantage of free vaccinations, dental checkups, and bags of fresh produce from the Houston Food Bank. Kids enjoyed interactive games and even snapped photos with the Houston Astros Shooting Stars cheerleaders.
For many families, the support couldn’t come at a better time, especially with the rising cost of living.
“It helps out a lot, and then our kids won’t be doing without for the school year,” said parent Kristina Alvarez.
Katherine Estrada, a mom of three girls, echoed that sentiment.
“Anything helps right now, especially with how the economy is. We’re really thankful,” she said.
Some families even made long trips to attend, including Lisa Duke, a grandmother from Liberty County who drove in with her daughter and four grandsons.
“When you’ve got four kids in school and trying to get supplies, this is a blessing,” Duke said.