Students can grab free backpacks Saturday

An area non-profit on Saturday will provide free school supplies for students around Rhode Island as part of their mission to engage families in their children’s education.

The 18th annual “Back to School Celebration of Rhode Island” will kick off at a dozen locations around the state, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. In addition to free school supplies for children – who must be present at the celebrations – food, entertainment, activities, and educational information will be available.

The celebration was founded in 1999, distributing backpacks filled with school supplies to 600 children. Since then, the event has grown, and this year they expect to provide tools for school to more than 16,000 children and families at 12 locations around the Ocean State. Of the dozen celebrations in Rhode Island include spots in Central Falls, Cumberland, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket.

Last year, they provided backpacks and school supplies to almost 14,000 students at 11 different sites. In total since its inception, officials have estimated that the yearly Back to School Celebration has supported more than 130,000 children.

The celebration’s mission is to involve parents in the education of their children, thereby helping to create an atmosphere of trust and open communication between schools, students, and families.

This year’s locations are as follows:

Veteran’s Memorial Elementary School, 150 Fuller Ave., Central Falls

YMCA, 1225 Park Ave., Cranston

Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, 291 Broad St., Cumberland

East Bay Community Action Program, 6 John H. Chafee Blvd., Newport

McCoy Stadium, 1 Columbus Ave., Pawtucket

Nathanael Greene Middle School, 721 Chalkstone Ave., Providence

Parent Information and Student Registration, 325 Ocean St., Providence

United Way of Rhode Island, 50 Valley St., Providence

Veazie Street Elementary School, 211 Veazie St., Providence

West End Community Center, 109 Bucklin St., Providence

Thundermist Health Center, 186 Providence St., West Warwick

St. James Baptist Church, 340 South Main St., Woonsocket