Many attend Back-to-School Kick-Off & Book Bag Giveaway
YOUNGSTOWN
A surprised look crossed fourth-grader Michael Guerriero’s face when he discovered there was a lot more to his free book bag than what met his eye.
“A ruler, a bunch of pencils and eraser and glue sticks,” the Austintown Intermediate School student said excitedly as he ticked off the main school supplies in his backpack.
Michael and his father, Michael Guerriero, were among those who came to Saturday’s second annual Back-to-School Kick-Off & Book Bag Giveaway at the Covelli Centre on East Front Street.
Nevertheless, father and son assumed they would receive only a backpack, so they were pleasantly taken aback upon seeing the free items inside that the younger Michael received to start his school year.
The event’s three main sponsors were the Youngstown City School District, the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence effort and NOW Youngstown, a faith-based organization that hosts community rallies and get-togethers in many of the city’s high-crime areas.
An estimated 2,000 book bags were distributed at the free, two-hour gathering, which was open to families of students in kindergarten through grade 12, noted Yvonne Mathis, the school district’s communications director and spokeswoman.
Items included pens and pencils, notebooks, folders, paper, rulers, erasers, highlight markers and crayons.
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