FELLSMERE — With just five days until Operation Hope’s 13th annual Backpack Giveaway, organizers find themselves woefully under stocked. They have a little more than 300 backpacks – they need at least 800.
Operation Hope founder Jesse Zermeno has been reaching out to area businesses and organizations trying to get more donations. The public, at large, is also being encouraged to help.
The annual Backpack Giveaway will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11, starting at 1 p.m., and serves as a way to help children in need go back to school well-equipped for their classes.
Along with the giveaway, there are plans for live music and games meant to keep everyone entertained while waiting their turn to pick out their backpack.
Though the giveaway won’t start until 1 p.m., Zermeno expects families to start arriving a few hours early to ensure a place in line.
Anyone willing to donate to the Operation Hope Backpack Giveaway can drop off their items at Operation Hope, located at 12285 County Road 512, Fellsmere, or call (772) 571-0003.
Vero Beach’s Chick-fil-A restaurant, located at the Indian River Mall, has gotten involved in the backpack event, too.
The Chick-fil-A at Indian River Mall will give a free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich to guests who donate school supplies starting Monday, July 30 through Friday, Aug. 10. The donated school supplies will be distributed to Operation Hope in Fellsmere.
Requested items include:
- packs of 12 No. 2 pencils
- wide or college rules paper
- 3-ring binders
- composition notebooks
- packs of dry-erase markers
- 8 1/2″ x 11″ spiral notebooks
- backpacks
- packs of colored pencils or crayons
Those also interested in volunteering that day are encouraged to call Operation Hope at (772) 571-0003.
