GREEN BAY Wis. — A new school year is approaching and one of the largest backpack giveaway events in the state happened in Green Bay on Sunday. 

Hundreds of families stood in long lines at Green Bay First Church for its annual back-to-Back-to-School Bash. The backpack giveaway certainly came at the right time for many families, as inflation continues.

What You Need To Know

  • Around 800 backpacks were distributed at Green Bay First's Back-to-School Bash
  • Last year, 600 backpacks weren't enough for families; roughly 300 were still in need
  • Families enjoyed haircuts, bounce houses, dunk tanks and food at Sunday's event
  • Fundraising for next school year's event has already started

“It’s just tough,” Green Bay First Church Pastor Matt Miller said. “A lot of people are struggling and so it’s just evident by the response that we get for these events.”

Miller said he’s noticed a lingering struggle for parents trying to buy the basics for school. He said last year their lines were longer than supplies.

Michelle Mattox was one of 800 families that received backpacks at Green Bay First Church. (Spectrum News 1/Rhonda Foxx)

“We ran out of everything. I think we had 600 backpacks. We ran out,” he said. “Probably 300 people left because we didn’t have anything for them.”

Michelle Mattox arrived hours before the start of the event and was at the front of the line. She hoped to offset her back to school budget with backpacks for her fifth and seventh graders.

“My daughter needs a scientific calculator that in my day was $10,” she said. “Now the cheapest one is like $50.”

Being one of the first through the doors was important for parents like Mattox because the cost of school supplies in the past two years had increased nearly 24%, according to a report by Deloitte. Mattox said these backpacks help because she’s seeing no relief at discount stores.

(Spectrum News 1/Rhonda Foxx)

“I did a lot of shopping at Target and Walmart and I feel that the costs have gone up a lot in the last couple of years and especially for big items,” she said.

The cost for other items, like paper products, has also increased, according to that same Deloitte report, which is why Mattox said these little backpacks will provide help for her family.

“This is a relief off my back and at least the kids get a little bit of something they may want,” she said.

A crowd of nearly 1,000 filled the church for the giveaway. Mattox and her two kids, Emma and Hank, handed over their tickets for two backpacks from Green Bay First, a church that strives to change the lives of people in difficult times.

Church members gave away more than 800 free backpacks, haircuts and food to help families in need.

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