Students can get free backpacks and school supplies Saturday in Fort Worth. United Way of Tarrant County is hosting a community event Saturday at Artes de la Rosa north of Downtown.
"Part of United Way of Tarrant County's mission is to meet the ever-changing needs of our community," says United Way of Tarrant County's Deanna Titzler. "We've recognized with the rising cost of school supplies and backpacks, some families may not be able to afford these key items."
Titzler says volunteers will hand out 200 backpacks and school supplies to kids who finish at least two activity stations, but they will also have music and a DJ.
"It's really a full family-friendly experience," she says. "There are all kinds of activities for families and kids of all ages. We're going to have robot demonstrations and virtual reality."
She says the robots and virtual reality can spark kids' interest in STEM education. She says introducing them to those activities at a young age can show them the variety of careers they might enjoy.
"If they come out to the fair, they'll get exposed to things in a new way that, who knows, might spark an interest in a future career or future educational pursuits," Titzler says.
Activity stations will also include art and reading. Families can also meet first responders. Titzler says the event aims to help families blaze a path toward their kids' success.
"That's actually one of our primary goals with holding this event," she says. "We want to make things easy for these families so they don't have barriers to future success for their kids."
United Way of Tarrant County's event is Saturday from 10am to 1 pm at Artes de la Rosa:
1440 N. Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76164
More information is available at unitedwaytarrant.org/resource-fair.