Back-to-School Bash at Brackenridge Salvation Army provides for students

Highlands senior Eli Majocha swept through the back-to-school aisles at local discount stores filling his cart with all the coolest items he thought kids might like.

Armed with $500 in donations from friends and strangers, the 17-year-old happily plucked an array of Sharpies, crayons and tablets from the shelves.

“It’s important to go back to school feeling good about yourself,” said Majocha, who partnered with the Salvation Army in Brackenridge for its annual backpack giveaway.

The Back-to-School Bash is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Aug. 20 at the facility along Brackenridge Avenue. Families must register by Friday to receive a backpack.

Launched 13 year ago, the event has grown from a basic giveaway with 84 children to a festival with a bounce house, hot dogs, free haircuts and face painting.

“It’s like a carnival,” Salvation Army Capt. Selah Bender said.

She said the items help stretch family budgets and “take some of the pressure off.”

There have been years when volunteers stuffed more than 500 bags to distribute to families in need. In 2021, there were 311 backpacks given away.

“It makes a big impact,” volunteer Victoria McCloud of Harrison said.

“When the kids come in and they see all the bags, they love the experience of picking which one they want.”

Last week, rows of backpacks in every color lined the floor at the Salvation Army. There were some with a camo designs and others with pink sequins or pictures of The Hulk.

Volunteers worked in an assembly line to fill them, sorting through mounds of notebooks, pencils, crayons and glue.

“Almost anything they could want, we have,” Georgetta Field of Brackenridge said.

She initiated the first backpack giveaway after her husband, Paul, passed away, and the family wanted to honor his memory.

“After my husband died, I found all these school supplies in the house. Don’t ask me why,” she said, laughing. “My daughter does ministry work and brought enough bookbags to stuff all the supplies into. The whole family has been participating ever since.”

Majocha said he sought donations on social media as a way to give back. He was able to deliver 50 backpacks and countless bags of supplies to the Salvation Army.

“I filled my car to the brim,” he said. “It’s just a way to be a kind human.”