ORLANDO, Fla. – At West Oaks Elementary School on Saturday, more than 400 kids were expected to come and pick out a backpack for the new school year.
Former FSU fullback and NFL player James Coleman put on the event through his organization, MFTK. He hosts giveback events across Orlando, Jacksonville, and his hometown, Tallahassee.
After seeing more than 400 kids registered for Saturday’s giveaway, he wants to do more to help out.
“Most of the bad decisions I made in life came down to a lack of resources and food, so if we can kind of help eliminate some of that burden off of the parents, then that’s what we’re here for,” he said.
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The free backpacks are a big relief for parents when it comes to their back-to-school budget. One parent told News 6’s Emily McLeod that the giveaway helped him save upward of $200.
“It helps out a lot, very, a lot, because I’m spending almost between $30 and $50 just for a bookbag,” Robert Owens said.
With back to school right around the corner, our News 6 community correspondents are working on what you need to know before you send your kids back for the new school year.
Faith, an 11-year-old who gave up part of her Saturday to volunteer at the event shared what it meant to help her community.
“There’s people at school who don’t have backpacks who need help and I’m trying my best to give help to them,” Faith said.
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