(WTNH) – Equipping college students for a profitable faculty yr. That’s how a gaggle of firefighters in Meriden began their morning.

One merchandise at a time, backpacks had been full of what might be referred to as the constructing blocks for a profitable faculty yr.

That is the 19^th yr for the Again to Faculty Expo. Meriden Firefighter’s Union Native 1148 has been the sponsor since 2012.

Volunteers are stuffing backpacks with nearly the whole lot college students want.

Now, in its 10^th yr of sponsoring the expo, the firefighters have given away over 10,000 backpacks, enormously impacting a neighborhood in multiple means.

A complete of 800 backpacks are being full of faculty gadgets akin to sharpies and rulers. Then, every backpack is handed out to households in Meriden, freed from cost for so long as they final.

Dad and mom and their youngsters lined up shiny and early for the giveaway. They discovered about it via the ability of social media.  

“For the excessive schoolers, they have an inclination to do a binder and issues for the youngsters to begin. We sit you down and calculate it and it comes all the way down to about $200 for 3 youngsters,” mentioned Emeli Morales-Varona.

The expo is just not solely feeding the thoughts but additionally the physique. On the finish of the road, the Meals and Vitamin Providers of Meriden is providing free lunches.

“At this time, they’ve a alternative of peanut butter and jelly sandwich or turkey sandwich, together with a juice, white milk, or chocolate milk.           

The giveaway is feasible due to donations from native companies and organizations. It’s a gesture that’s altering the way forward for college students.