Backpack! Backpack! A drive-thru giveaway with meals

The COVID-19 pandemic didn't stop St. Vincent de Paul from having its annual backpack giveaway right before the start of school. On July 27, staff and a limited number of volunteers gave away 500 backpacks to kids and 703 to-go meals to families through SVdP's Family Dining Room drive-thru!

A special thanks goes to Toyota, who donates to this effort annually, and to all the supporters who purchased pre-packed school kits from SVdP's Amazon Charity List. Together, everyone was able to safely help make sure that kids with fewer resources and limited means were ready to head back to school!

Scroll down for more details and photos from the giveaway day.

So many smiles and happy faces filled the drive-thru as kids eagerly rolled down the window anticipating their brand new backpacks and school supplies.

These pre-packed school supply boxes that supporters purchased through SVdP's Amazon Charity List helped greatly with the limited-touch distribution. Volunteers progressed the boxes to the outside giveaway station. 

With volunteers and staff handing the backpacks and school supplies through passenger windows and doors, families didn't even have to leave their vehicles.

We saw 135 cars come through the drive-thru that day. Staff was prepared with snacks and water to help keep families comfortable and hydrated as the line progressed. Everyone was so efficient that the whole giveaway wrapped up in under two and a half hours.

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who braved the extreme heat to make sure children could start the school year off with all they need to be successful in their learning.