JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of students are prepping to return to school soon, and there were several back-to-school events across Northeast Florida Saturday to get students the supplies they need.
One of them was held at the Prime Osborn Convention Center where 10,000 backpacks were given out.
Luis Garcia attended the event. He is ready to take on fifth grade.
He and his family just moved to Jacksonville from Memphis, so this is his first school year in Duval County.
On top of that, he loves school.
“They let us talk to our friends,” Garcia said.
RELATED | LIST: Back-to-school events to help families in Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia | Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday begins on Monday. Here’s what you can buy sales-tax free for 2 weeks
Now he and thousands of other students have what they need to thrive this school year, as they showed up here to the Prime Osborn Convention Center for the Pack the Sack Back to School event.
Apart from the 10,000 backpacks, organizers gave away school supplies, snacks and free prizes.
“It felt great,” Garcia said.
Local partners like Walmart— among others— along with councilmen At-Large Terrance Freeman and Nick Howland helped put this thing in gear.
They hope this gives these students morale to get the school year started on a good note.
“When I drove up and saw that line wrap around the building at 8 o’clock this morning, I was like oh my. This is an amazing opportunity of service,” Freeman said. “To know that we are playing a part in a student now being able to go to school, have supplies. When they look left and right, they can say hey I have the same thing that my peers have. I am positive that that gives their self-esteem, their self-confidence, a boost. It makes them feel better about themselves and hopefully, they’re going to perform better in school.”
Howland said this event was all about the children.
“Children matter. Children are the focus of this Jacksonville City Council and making sure that our city has what it takes to prosper and our families have what it takes to have a wonderful and successful life,” Howland said.
MORE | Former FSU, NFL player celebrating birthday with 5th annual community giveaway in Jacksonville
This was a unique year because it was held at the Prime Osborn for the first time — all to meet the high demand.
Students also were able to get free haircuts and health screenings like eye exams.
As far as one of Duval County’s newest students, Garcia one day wants to become a cop and said his love for school is helping manifest that dream.
“So I can save people’s lives,” Garcia said. “They tell me what you have to do so you can learn when you are older.”