AUGUSTA, Maine — More than 1,000 students, from kindergarten through grade 12, stopped by the Augusta Civic Center on Sunday to pick up free school supplies.
The Greater Augusta Area Back to School Program held the annual backpack giveaway to get kids ready for the upcoming school year.
Students were able to choose from the 1,500 backpacks on display that were filled with school supplies.
“It feels great,” fourth-grader Kayla Moone said.
Families checked off their back-to-school shopping lists and got ready for the school year in more ways than one.
The event also featured music, martial arts, face painting, and even free haircuts.
“Everything is just so amazing,” Mason Wildes, who will begin fourth grade soon, said.
Wildes said he is so excited start school, and with his new backpack the school year couldn’t start sooner.
“I'm gonna feel ready to go,” Wildes said.
Volunteers gave kids a personalized backpack shopping experience.
“It’s great. So, what we do is we ask them what color or design they like, and we find a few, and they pick the one they like the best,” volunteer Annie Dow said.
Dow is entering sixth grade and wanted to help give back to her fellow students
“It's just really fun, because a lot of people go to the store, and the kid’s like, 'I want that backpack,' but it's like $30, so they can't get it,” Dow said. “But this, all the backpacks here are free, so the kids can get whatever they want.”
The Greater Augusta Area Back to School Program started the backpack giveaway in 2017 with just 150 backpacks. The program has only expanded since with help from the community.
“Our goal is to make sure that every kiddo, when they start school in September, they are all on the same playing field, that every student has the tools they need to be successful,” founder Michael Michaud said.
Michaud said the organization plans to continue until every student’s needs are met.
“We're going to start shopping for next year tomorrow,” he said.
Coming up next, the organization is holding a winter coat drive in November.
If you would like to donate to the program you can find more information on the organization's Facebook page.