MT. VERNON (WSIL) -- Whether kids go back to the classroom this fall or stay home and take part in remote learning, they'll still need school supplies.
To help families, a backpack block party is being held so any child who needs a backpack can get one.
The event began five years ago with Linola Spann when she saw the need in her neighborhood. It started with games for the kids in her yard and turned into a backpack giveaway after partnering with Christian Central Church.
Each year since, more and more backpacks filled with supplies have been given away.
This year, the goal is to give away a thousand backpacks and Spann says it's a worthy effort.
"I think a lot of times we don't realize that a kid who goes to school and does not have a backpack, they feel left out. Or they could possibly be picked on," Spann says. "I don't want any kid to feel like they are not worth a backpack. He is worth a backpack."
Now that the event has outgrown Spann's neighborhood, she and Central Christian Church have teamed up with the city.
The event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park on August 8th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will coincide with the city's Market Days, which is a monthly flea market and vendor fair during the summer.
There will be a dj playing music and families can enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, drinks and snow cones. A few bikes will also be given away to kids.
For the goal of a thousand backpacks to be reached, 300 still need to be collected. One drop-off locations is Central Christian Church.
Other drop-off locations include:
- Southwest Christian Church
- Meadowbrook Christian Church
- West Salem Trinity United Methodist Church
In addition to backpacks, glue and scissors are also needed. As well as, a few bikes for the bike giveaway.
For more information call Central Christian Church at (618) 242-4185 or for the address.
