PALMDALE, Calif. - They’re flashy, they’re colorful, they look good in a classroom, but even better, they’re completely free.
Backpacks were given away Thursday as part of the Department of Children and Family Services back-to-school backpack event.
“I actually got a backpack. You know it’s kind of helpful to get supplies that I kind of just need for school,” said ninth grade Littlerock High School student Joshua Kirby.
As part of the Department of Children and Family Services first annual event, backpacks are given to foster kids who often don’t have access to get new school supplies.
“Our staff is committed to children. We value education and we really want to show how much education is important to us. Children are our future and a big part of their success is doing well in school. We just want to support that effort,” said DCFS Regional Administrator Robin Younger Holmes.
About 350 backpacks were ready for takeoff and filled with school supplies donated by the Palmdale DCFS community team.
“I got paper, two books, pencils, crayons and markers,” said second grade student Anthony Smith.
It's all in an effort to get kids excited about and prepared for school.
“A lot of the kids are really happy. They got to pick the backpacks. Different backpacks have different things, so it was like Christmas for them. They got to see different supplies and they were so excited,” said DCFS social worker Sabastian Camacho.
Zayne Martinez is going into kindergarten this school year and just received his very first backpack.
But these donations aren’t only benefitting the kids, they’re directly helping out Antelope Valley families.
“School stuff can get really expensive so this really helps with the kids, especially when they’re first starting school,” said Palmdale resident Brittney Matthews.
Backpacks weren’t the only things given away to get the kids back to school ready. In the Game Barber Shop handed out vouchers so that they can get a fresh new haircut just before school starts.