According to an Aug. 4 press release from the city of Houston, the event will be in person for the first time in two years. The festival is designed to help economically disadvantaged elementary school students prepare for school in the Houston area, Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement.
"With the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Houston families simply cannot afford backpacks and school supplies,” Turner said. “My administration is focused on creating equity, particularly when it comes to our children. Families have been hit hard by health issues or unemployment, so this event is intended to provide them some relief.”
A total of 25,000 backpacks with school supplies will be given out during the event, which will also feature on-site health screenings for dental and vision, routine immunizations and COVID-19 vaccinations. According to the release, the event will also connect families to health and social services from community agencies.
“We believe supporting the communities where we live and work helps make [a] positive, lasting social and economic impact,” Shell President Gretchen Watkins said in the release.
