NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - More than 200 kids stopped by the Terra Nova Church in North Adams on Thursday to stock up on school supplies courtesy of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.

“They come in, they get to ‘shop’ for their backpack supplies and put a backpack together,” NBCC executive director, Amber Besaw, said. “It’s all free. They spend time and see other kids, get excited about going back to school, and then walk out with what they need to start the school year on the right foot.” 

What You Need To Know

  • The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition’s ‘Backpacks for Success’ event was Thursday
  • Any student in grades K-12 could come get a free backpack and school supplies
  • This was the 11th year of the event
  • The goal is to get kids prepared and excited for the upcoming school year

The event, called "Backpacks for Success," is open to any students in grades K-12. Unlike other similar programs, the kids get to choose all their own supplies.

“They can shop for their supplies and really pick out what they want and need,” Besaw said. “If they need to be here and this is important for their family, they’re not going to be seen as different. They’re going to have what everybody else has.”

This is the 11th year of the program, and, for many families, it’s become part of the back-to-school routine.

“They look forward to it every year, they’re really appreciative," family support and neighborhood coordinator, Stephanie Puc, said. “I get personal emails saying ‘thank you so much, thank you for all that you do in this community, this is such a wonderful event,’ so we get so excited here at the coalition to be able to provide this.”

After such a difficult school year last year, the hope is this event will help get kids excited about what will hopefully be a better year to come.

“I think it’s important to give them something to look forward to when it comes to school,” Besaw said. “And sort of have it be a little bit of a bright light in the next couple months for them.”