Backpack Giveaway is July 23 in Harrison

HARRISON, NY — The National Retail Federation predicted the average person with children in grades K-12 would spend $97.74 on school supplies such as notebooks, pencils and backpacks two years ago, and the cost is only going up.

With more than 16 million children in the U.S. living in poverty, the Harrison Wireless Zone is working to alleviate the rising costs of school supplies through the fifth annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway in partnership with The Cellular Connection (TCC) and Culture of Good.

Between 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. on July 23, the Wireless Zone and TCC store invites Harrison families and their children to pick up a backpack filled with school supplies. The store is located at 231 Halstead Ave.

One backpack per child present will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. The child must be present to receive the backpack.

More than 1,300 participating Wireless Zone and TCC stores across the U.S. are inviting local families and their children to visit these select locations between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. July 23 to pick up a backpack filled with various school supplies, including pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders and glue.

This is expected to be the biggest year yet with more than 230,000 backpacks full of books expected to be delivered in 2017.