School supplies to be distributed July 24 & 31

Two separate Back to School backpack and supply giveaways will be held July 24 and July 31 in the metropolitan New Orleans area.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans’ Hispanic Apostolate, in partnership with Healthy Blue, will assist children in grades K-6 with a drive-through Back to School Supplies Giveaway July 24 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hispanic Apostolate, 2525 Maine Avenue, Metairie.

Also, on July 31 from 8 a.m. to noon, the 2021 NOLA Back 2 School Fest presented by Shell will provide 4,000 students in grades K-6 with free backpacks filled with essential supplies. The pickup location is the Xavier University Center, located on the corner of Dixon and Broadway streets on Xavier’s south campus.

Parents and caregivers who have pre-registered students in grades K-6 at www.nolabacktoschoolfest.org will pick up their child’s backpacks and supplies in a drive-through distribution alongside the Xavier University Center. Parents/caregivers who utilize public transportation, arrive on foot or by bicycle can pick up the backpacks at the entrance of the Katharine Drexel Residence Hall located on Broadway Street near the corner of Dixon Street.

“The upcoming school year is especially important for school-aged children who have faced numerous challenges and disruptions both at home and in school because of the pandemic,” said Steve Oprea, external relations advisor with Shell Exploration & Production. “It is critical for students to start the new school year with the school supplies they need from ‘Day 1.’ If preparation is a key to success, we think that by providing students with necessary tools for learning, we can help set them up for success.”

Dr. Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University of Louisiana, said the backpack giveaway “allows our children to return to the classroom with eagerness and confidence, and with the knowledge that their community believes in them and supports them.”

“Having their own school supplies helps children be ready for the first day of school with a positive attitude and sense of self and community,” Verret said. “Educational equity is equity, and together we can remove barriers to learning that many students face.”

Students from throughout the metropolitan area are eligible to receive the free backpack and school supplies; however, students must be pre-registered in advance at www.nolabacktoschoolfest.org.

Parents/caregivers who are not fully vaccinated and students are encouraged to wear a face covering or mask when picking up backpacks. Volunteers will wear masks when placing backpacks into the trunks of participants’ cars.

Parents/caregivers also will receive a bag filled with helpful information to connect them with vital community resources and providers that offer direct assistance.

The fifth annual NOLA Back 2 School Fest presented by Shell is hosted in partnership Xavier University of Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans STEM Initiative (GNO STEM).

To register to participate and to learn more, visit www.nolabacktoschoolfest.org or email [email protected].