Canton Wireless Zone To Host Backpack Giveaway

CANTON, MA – Canton Wireless Zone is hosting its first School Rocks Backpack Giveaway in July. The idea of the program is to equip lower-income families and people who struggle with budgeting for school supplies with backpacks for the school year, according to Wireless Zone franchisee Eric Leung.

"We wanted to do a day of community giving," Leung said. "No strings attached, no gimmicks."

The National Retail Federation predicts the average person with children in grades K-12 will spend about $97 on school supplies, such as notebooks, pencils and backpacks. With more than 16 million children in the United States living in poverty, Canton Wireless Zone partnered with The Cellular Connection and Culture of Good to host a backpack giveaway. The Cellular Connection has sponsored the event for five years.

Leung said he has ordered about 400 backpacks and plans to have a balloon artist, face painter and other activities on hand to make the day a true community event. He is currently coordinating with area police and fire departments to bring their vehicles down for kids to explore. The event is scheduled for July 23 from 1-3 p.m.

"Anyone who shows up with a kid, we're giving them a backpack," Leung said.

The backpacks will be filled with school supplies, and more than 230,000 are expected to be delivered nationwide this summer.

Canton Wireless Zone is located at the Village Shoppes, 95 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021.

The backpack giveaway will be held at participating locations. Click here for the list.

Photo via Wireless Zone