Elected officials, nonprofits distribute hundreds of backpacks to local kids

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and 6th District Councilmember Dee Andrews, along with local nonprofits What’s Next Now.Org and New Life Beginnings, gave away 1,200 backpacks filled with school supplies at the 6th District Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Lincoln Elementary School.
As part of Andrews’s effort to expand services in the community, he teamed up with the Long Beach nonprofits to distribute the backpacks to families. “There are a lot of families that are barely getting by in our city,” Andrews said. “The extra cost of purchasing school supplies can cause financial hardships. This event helped relieve some of the burden. The back-to-school event provided students with the supplies they need to succeed in school.”

Rebecca Younger, founder of New Life Beginnings, said, “It is always a great joy to see the smiling faces of the children when they got their backpack. One kid was so excited that he hugged Councilman Andrews like he was Santa Claus.”
This is the second year that Andrews has hosted the fair, and it attracted more than 1,000 people, with some families lining up four hours in advance to secure a back pack for their children, according to Tonya Martin of Andrews’s office.
Each backpack, full of school supplies, was distributed to kids from 5 to 16 years old. The event also included school safety tips presented by Long Beach Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna, as well as a demonstration from the Long Beach Fire Department, the Safe Moves Bike Rodeo and information booths to help attendees with free community services.

Source: 6th District Council office