23rd annual Big Backpack giveaway set for Sunday
The Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida is continuing its longstanding tradition of helping the children of the community prepare for the beginning of school with free backpacks and supplies.
The 23rd annual BIG Backpack Event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at the Fort Myers Skatium, 2250 Broadway. The first 2,000 students, ages 5 to 12, will receive a new backpack filled with school supplies, as well as groceries through a curbside drive thru.
“I am a great believer that we have to invest in the future of our community. The best investment is investing in our children,” Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida Executive Director Leonardo Garcia said. “When we provide the opportunitys for them to get what they need to succeed in school, then down the road they become professionals and come back and, in turn, invest in our community. We have had children when we started benefit from the program. Today they come back and volunteer.”
Event Co-Chair Connie Ramos-Williams said this year will follow the same format as years past with families driving through to pick up their backpack and groceries. COVID is not driving that decision, rather families as they enjoy the simplicity.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office donated backpacks filled with school supplies for the event. The partnership with Community Cooperative made it possible to provide 1,000 family-friendly meals, such as peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese.
The families will be entertained by a DJ who is at the event every year, offering multi-cultural music. Ramos-Williams said the event also will feature the fire department and police department.
“You can hear the music from blocks away,” she said.
Garcia said for the first time in the event’s 23-year history, Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson will be dancing the merengue along the sidewalk as part of the entertainment.
In addition, the Lee County Health Department will also provide vaccines. Ramos-Williams said after families receive their backpacks and grocery bags they will be directed to the next parking lot for vaccinations, if they so choose.
To make the event successful more than 200 volunteers are needed to stuff backpacks, as well as grocery bags the day prior, Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as the day of the event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Volunteers can sign up online at www.multicultural-centre.org.
There are many principals and teachers who lend a helping hand during the event.
“They recognize that it’s their students and families that they are helping. They come and help. They pack the backpacks and distribute to the families. It’s amazing to see them step up and support,” Ramos-Williams said.
This year Garcia said 20 Dominican Republic police officers are volunteering for the first time ever. The police officers come to the area twice a year to train with the Sheriff’s Office.
Garcia asked if they would like to attend the 23rd annual event as an opportunity to see what it would be like to volunteer in the United States of America.
“They loved the idea of helping the kids out,” he said.
“When you look at the volunteers that are packing the backpacks and preparing for it, that’s a tremendous amount of work,” said Tim Oak, SWFL Regional President of Neal Communities. “The number of people that have done it for countless years, some since the beginning, it’s amazing.”
The event is made possible through the community’s support, especially that of Neal Communities, the presenting sponsor.
“Neal Communities (has been a) tremendous support over the last five, or six years. They have been amazing, a driving force that helps with this event in tremendous ways. Their continued support (helps us) keep hosting and holding this event,” Ramos-Williams said.
Oak said they are more than thrilled to be part of the event. He said it is a great pairing to work with the Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida and Community Cooperative.
“We are fortunate that we can reach out to our trade partners to help us with it,” Oak said, adding that when he is standing in front of a group at various meetings, their first response is “OK Tim” let us know where to send the check. “Neal Communities is always focused on being a good neighbor and good community partner.”
That focus of education, children and the community was a natural fit with the BIG Backpack Event.
“I love walking around at the event and seeing the cars lined up all the way out to 41 from the Skatium. You see the mayor, sheriff department, fire department, Fort Myers police and all the volunteers. It is really a special event,” he said. “It’s a wonderful event. There are so many people that still need help. We are in an industry fortunate enough to do it.”
With how this year has panned out with the cost of living increasing — food and gas prices, especially — the ability to purchase school supplies can be difficult for families. Ramos-Williams said school supplies can cost in the neighborhood of $600 to get ready for school.
“What we are providing is really a huge help for these families, especially for families with more than one child,” she said. “A lot of these kids come to school without backpacks, school supplies and some without shoes on their feet. It’s sad to think we have that in Southwest Florida. This event really serves a huge need. Parents are so appreciative. It truly means so much to them to have this handup to help them out during this time.”
Oak agreed that families are getting hit hard and you have to lend a hand where you can.
Other sponsors of the event include Fort Myers Broadcasting, News-Press, Lee County Family News, Comcast, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Community Cooperative, HABA, CONRIC pr + marketing, City of Fort Myers, Lee County School District and Children Medical Services Health Plan.
In the 22-year history of the event, more than 40,000 backpacks have been given to families in Lee County.
Ramos-Williams said the BIG Backpack Event was a dream of Garcia all those years ago. The very first event attracted 50 children.
“It’s amazing to see the impact and longevity. If there wasn’t a need the event would have gone long ago,” she said, but the majority of students in the district are on free and reduced lunch program and are below the poverty level.
Garcia said working with Ramos-Williams has been a blessing for the event.
“Thank you for putting all your passion and love to help. Neal Communities you also have been a blessing, especially in the last two years. We went through the situation with the virus and you came and supported us in those two years when we needed the help so much,” he said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com