About 600 families were expected to attend a school supply giveaway Friday in Dallas. Dallas ISD has staggered starting dates this year with the first schools starting on August 1st, others on August 8th, and the remainder on August 15th.
Friday, the City of Dallas and Reliant Energy gave away school supplies at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center. Supplies included notebooks, folders, pens, and crayons.
"Children love back-to-school supplies. They love getting brightly colored folders, pencils, and packages like that," said Reliant's Suzie Dieth. "It's so fun to see the smiles on their faces."
Dieth said Reliant has handed out more than 10,000 "back to school kits" across Texas.
"Reliant is known as the electricity provider, but we are also so passionate about the communities we serve," Dieth said. "We love to help our families with things like back-to-school or 'beat the heat' centers."
"This is very helpful," one mother who was picking up supplies with her son said. "It's more relaxing to know you can receive help with the kids going to school."
Dallas City Councilman Omar Narvaez was among those handing out supplies. He said events like this can allow all students to have the supplies they need to be successful regardless of their economic status.
"The most important thing is to have a student start with the proper supplies and things they need," Narvaez said. "Nothing's more horrific for a child than to get into school and not have a pencil or not have a glue stick or, depending on what age they are, not have their tablet."
Narvaez said preparing kids for academics when they enter the classroom can spark a life-long interest in learning.
"My mom didn't have a lot of money, but she would read to me every day. She helped me learn how to read," Narvaez said. "At that point, anytime I saw a book or magazine, I was reading because it opened up my world."
This year, Dallas ISD students from 6th through 12th grade are required to carry clear backpacks. At the event Friday, volunteers were handing out backpacks to families.
"Don't forget the older students," Narvaez said. "The middle school and high school students are the ones who are first forgotten. Everybody always donates for the elementary students, but they forget the high school students also have needs."
"It really doesn't make a difference. I feel safe," one high school student said.
Many parents said stores had been selling out of approved clear and mesh backpacks. Narvaez said the Dallas Office of Environmental Quality and Dallas Water Utilities were providing the backpacks at the multipurpose center.
"We want to make sure our students here in the City of Dallas are prepared and ready for day one," Narvaez said. "We don't want them falling behind because they're missing the essentials, the basics: school supplies."
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