Free backpacks stuffed with school supplies available for NKY students

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COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) - Backpacks stuffed with new school supplies will be given away this weekend in northern Kentucky

The 26th Backpacks Bonanza, hosted by Northern Kentucky Harvest, will take place this Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The backpacks will be doled out in the parking lot of St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Covington campus at 1500 James Simpson Jr. Way.

The event is open to low-income northern Kentucky students from preschool through 12th grade.

Students in public and private schools are welcome, as well as home-schooled juveniles.

Back to School: Everything you need to know

No pre-registration is necessary, but supplies will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.

You’ll need to show parent/guardian photo ID, proof of address (such as a recent lease or utility bill) and child identification (Social Security or medical cards for each child).

Overall, Bonanza organizers say they expect to provide at least 1,165 backpacks to low-income families.

About half have already been distributed through Harvest partners to share with families they are helping.

Those organizations include Welcome House, Brighton Center, Fiesta, The Lincoln-Grant Scholar House and Be Concerned.

The rest will be given out Saturday.

Papa Johns, food sponsor of the event, will provide free pizza.

According to the National Retail Federation, the cost of basic school supplies this year averages $146.45 per child – up about 7.7 percent from last year.

Adding new clothing, shoes, and required technology increases the total to $611, according to an online survey conducted by The Harris Poll.

“The reality is that families already struggling to pay for food, shelter, clothing and other necessities for their kids often find it difficult to accommodate back-to-school expenses,” said Paul Gottbrath, president of the non-profit Northern Kentucky Harvest.

“Our project gives them one less need – new backpacks filled with school supplies – to worry about.”

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The Backpacks Bonanza is made possible by the generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations, churches, clubs, and other organizations.

Among supporters are the Butler Foundation; the R.C. Durr Foundation, the Duke Energy Foundation, the Covington Rotary Foundation, the Western & Southern Financial Group; the Scripps Howard Fund; SofaGives; the Cincinnati Kolping Society; and St. Pius X Catholic Church.

In-kind support is provided through school supply drives by St. Timothy Church and St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring, and Cincinnati Internal Revenue Service Center (CIRSC) employees of Florence & Covington

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