Take a bite out of back-to-school expenses with three events set for the weekend of July 24-26.
Miller-Motte College’s “Bring Your Own Backpack” event is from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 24, at its Augusta campus, 3128-A Deans Bridge Road.
Bring an empty backpack, and Miller-Motte will fill it with school essentials, first-come, first-served. Children must be present for the event and pre-registration is required. Go here for more information.
On Saturday, the Hub for Community Innovation Augusta, 631 Chafee Avenue, is hosting its Back-to-School Celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be free books, backpacks filled with school supplies, story time and more. There will be fun activities for kids and helpful information for parents of students in Richmond County schools. The event also features free health checks, literacy and mental health resources, food and giveaways.
On Sunday, Verizon retailers will host their “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway” at 1 p.m.
For 14 years, Round Room, LLC, one of the country’s largest Verizon Authorized Retailers, has given out school supplies. The company plans to give away more than $3 million in supplies at its 1,200 stores nationwide. This year’s event is expected to help more than 140,000 students.


Area giveaway locations include 3120 Peach Orchard Rd., Suite B; 3601 Richland Ave W., Suite 701, Aiken; and 1207 Knox Ave. in North Augusta.
“Back-to-school costs continue to put pressure on many families, and something as simple as a backpack can make a meaningful impact,” said Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room in a news release. “For 14 years, our backpack giveaway has been one of
the most memorable days of the year for our employees, franchisees, and local communities, as we come together to help students start the school year with confidence. Backpacks are essential for students and we’re grateful we can give families one less thing to worry about.”
Also, dozens of lucky students will be “Golden Ruler” recipients, winning additional funds for back-to-school essentials. The giveaway highlights the “golden rule” of treating others with kindness, and 47 randomly selected stores across the country will have one backpack that contains a golden ruler keychain. Those who receive this backpack will also be given a $250 Visa gift card that can be used for other school necessities such as new shoes, lunchboxes, or writing supplies, the release said.

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