SWFL back to school event will giveaway free backpacks for kids

The school year in Southwest Florida starts in a couple of weeks and a local organization wants to make sure your kids have everything they need for academic success.

The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida has a back to school event to help as many kids and families as possible. The Big Backpack Event, Back-To-School Festival & School Supply Giveaway is on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at the Fort Myers Skatium Rink.

The first 2,000 Lee County elementary school students between 5-years-old to 12-years-old will be given a ticket and handstamp, the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida website states. With these, he or she can receive a free backpack and school supplies. School supplies include notebook paper, crayons, pens, pencils, folders and glue.

Here are some rules: children must be with an adult to receive the free supplies; no registration or proof of income is necessary; backpacks and school supplies are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you are unable to attend the Big Back Pack Event and Back-to-School Festival to get the help you need, the non-profit suggests calling the United Way 211 hotline to ask for help. For more information, email: info@multicultural-centre.org.