Over $3 million in free back-to-school backpacks to be given away

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ERIE, Pa. (WJET/WFXP) – On Sunday, July 28, over $3 million worth of free backpacks will be given out to more than 120,000 students across the U.S.

The 12th annual "Schools Rock Backpack Giveaway" by Round Room, which describes itself as one of the country's largest Verizon-authorized retailers, will take place at 1 p.m. over 1,200 participating TCC and Wireless Zone locations around the nation. Along with the backpack giveaway, family-friendly activities will also be held. Lines are expected to begin forming before the event begins.

Since its inception in 2013, Round Room has been able to provide more than 1.3 million children with a backpack. The hope is to alleviate some financial burden associated with the back-to-school season. The average cost for back-to-school supplies for families is now around $890.

Families are invited to attend their local event, and each present child will receive one backpack while supplies last. Any leftover backpacks will be donated to local schools of each store's choice.

Visit TCC or Wireless Zone websites to find the location nearest to you.

All at the same time, on the same Sunday afternoon, there’s a simultaneous period of giving at our TCC and Wireless Zone stores around the country. It’s a beautiful thing. We believe in the power of community and the importance of education, which is why this initiative is so important to everyone throughout the Round Room organization. Our corporate team, store owners, and store employees work hard to make this happen every year because they genuinely want to make a profound impact. They want to help ensure every student has the basic tools they need to start the school year off on the right foot.

Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room

Round Room is also hosting its spinoff on the golden rule, which is to treat others the way you want to be treated. They are holding their Golden Ruler giveaway, in which one backpack at 10 random locations will contain a Golden Ruler keychain. Those who receive the Golden Ruler keychain will receive a $100 Visa gift card to go towards other school-related expenses.

Additionally, the school that the Golden Ruler winners are attending for the 2024-2025 school year will receive a $1,000 Amazon Wishlist Buyout. On average, teachers spend over $500 out-of-pocket on their classrooms. The inaugural component of the giveaway is to minimize any personal spending on essential school supplies.