ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With kids heading back to school in Rochester in less than two weeks, many families across the city are looking for new supplies for the school year.

While the cost of going back-to-school season continues to go up, one Rochester City School District commissioner, along with other organizers, is holding a giveaway to make sure students get exactly what they need ahead of September.

At the giveaway in the Tops parking lot on West Avenue, students were able to get new bookbags, school supplies, and even shoes. The event was pretty busy on Saturday.

“There’s a lot of people in need and this is a way to bless them with what they need by giving them community information, as well as giving them a book bag and school supplies and footwear to step into their greatness,” said RCSD Commissioner Jacqueline Griffin.

Griffin helped organize the giveaway in the Tops parking lot on West Avenue. “We do this event every year. In our last year, we started giving away footwear. We believe in stepping the kids into greatness. This is the way we can give back to the community,” she said.

Griffin helps students get the backpacks, clothes, and school supplies they need for the upcoming school year. But this year, she’s partnering with Clianda Florence’s Let’s Get LIT program, bringing more books to underprivileged families.

Family members, like older cousin Asia Jackson, who’s also working on her GED, says it’s great to see the community helping those who need it.

“Some families don’t have like what they need, you know what I’m saying? So I get some families can’t afford school supplies and school supplies. So I feel like it’s also good because it helps out certain families in certain on like households and stuff,” said Jackson.

“It gives to help people that don’t have like money to get people school supplies. So I think, I like when they do events so people don’t have to spend money or like go out shopping for their kids. So I think these events that people keep on going to encourage them to put their kids in school,” said Camille, a student.

The giveaway on West Avenue wasn’t the only back-to-school giveaway over the weekend. At the Latino Youth and Development Resource Center, they held a similar event, giving away backpacks, food, and school supplies ahead of the new school year. They say they understand the burden can be a lot, and want to make the struggle a little less for families.

“With the economy so high, we’re having problems, people buying book bags, etc., for their kids. And this is a joy to be here with the community. And we have an outpouring amount of support out here today. And I really appreciate everything that you’ve done for our community and puts these things together for us and my children. Appreciate it. All the parents,” said Carlos Vargas, a worker at the event.

Just a few weeks after a car crashed through their restaurant, El Pilon Criollo on North Clinton Avenue also held a back to school giveaway. Families here received book bags filled with supplies along with haircuts.

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