Community comes together to help families prepare for back-to-school

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With the school year right around the corner, community volunteers are stepping up to help local families prepare.

Dozens of families gathered Saturday at the Derick G.S. Davis Community Center to receive free backpacks, pencils, toys and other school supplies.

Networking ILM partnered with Jalen Wallace of Positive Shenanigans Only for the back-to-school giveaway. Organizers say more than 1,200 backpacks have been collected for students in the Cape Fear region.

Volunteer Steven Verne says the giveaway can help families who are feeling the financial pressure that comes with preparing for a new school year.

“Being able to supply a lot of families with a new book bag and some pencils so they don’t have to go to school at a disadvantage means a lot, especially when it comes from the heart. It’s a really challenging issue for a lot of families, so I’m glad we’re able to come together and help meet that need,” Verne said.

Jalen Wallace says that they plan to do a Christmas toy drive this winter.