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For the ninth year in a row, the City of DeLand and the Spring Hill Neighborhood Association are preparing for the Mayor’s Backpack Giveaway.
To help youngsters get ready for the return to school, 1,000 backpacks will be up for grabs at the Earl Brown Park amphitheater, at 815 S. Alabama Ave., 8-10 a.m. Saturday, July 20.
One backpack voucher per student will be handed out as people line up. The student must be present.
The vouchers will then be exchanged for backpacks, which are provided by Walmart.
The event also features a large number of school-supply vendors offering free swag to fill up the backpacks, as well as booths promoting community-health initiatives.
The health vendors will include representatives from the Florida Department of Health, the Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler & Volusia Counties, Family Health Source, and Safe Kids Volusia/Flagler Counties, among others.
Free and confidential quick HIV testing will be provided by CAN Community Health, and bags filled with hygiene products are available for middle-schoolers, courtesy of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand and others.
In addition, there will be a disc jockey playing music, as well as free popcorn provided by First Assembly DeLand and snow cones by the Sanctuary church.
The Coca-Cola Company will also be on-site with goodies, and will sponsor a raffle for a free bicycle. The Chik-Fil-A cow will also make an appearance.
The event is still in need of volunteers to direct vendors, give out backpacks, and pass out water.
Those interested in helping, or getting more information about the event, should contact the Spring Hill Resource Center at 386-740-0808, or by email to shresourcecenter@gmail.com.
