2,000 students attend Multicultural Centre of SWFL’S 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event
Over 1,000 families also receive grocery bags full of food
Event founder Leonardo Garcia, left, and event chair Connie Ramos-Williams with city of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, right, at the 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event at the Fort Myers Skatium. PHOTO PROVIDED
Lee County School Board member Debbie Jordan volunteered to pack and distribute school supplies at the 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event. PHOTO PROVIDED
Volunteers Jordan Renaud of Estero High and Alex Greenberg of Canterbury helped to carry backpacks filled with school supplies to the curbside distribution area. PHOTO PROVIDED
Event founder Leonardo Garcia, left, and event chair Connie Ramos-Williams with city of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, right, at the 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event at the Fort Myers Skatium. PHOTO PROVIDED
Lee County School Board member Debbie Jordan volunteered to pack and distribute school supplies at the 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event. PHOTO PROVIDED
Volunteers Jordan Renaud of Estero High and Alex Greenberg of Canterbury helped to carry backpacks filled with school supplies to the curbside distribution area. PHOTO PROVIDED
Trending
The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida's 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event was held curbside at the Skatium in Fort Myers Sunday, July 25, serving thousands of students and families.
Over 150 volunteers worked 1,500-plus volunteer hours over the July 24-25 weekend. On July 24 volunteers worked to stuff 2,000 backpacks with school supplies and 1,000 grocery bags with food. Community Cooperative donated 17 pallets of food to be distributed.
Nearly 40,000 backpacks have been distributed to families over the event's 22-year history. The event draws thousands of people in attendance each year, with the largest crowd reaching 15,000 during the height of the recession back in 2008.