Events being held in Louisville offering free school supplies to students

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Students around Louisville can get ready for school.

The Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services is donating $200,000 of school supplies like backpacks, folders, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons and rulers to be given out at seven back-to-school events in the coming weeks. Neighborhood Place and other community partners are holding the events.

"It's extremely important in that, now that they hopefully will not have to spend as much or anything at all, they can focus on preparing children to be ready for school," said Elisa Freeman-Carr, administrator at the Ujima Neighborhood Place.

According to a news release, the funding is from a special allocation of federal Community Services Block Grant-CARES funding. Local businesses, churches, schools and individual donors are also providing the supplies.

"We know the COVID-19 pandemic has made the last couple years extremely hard for many families in our community," Tameka Laird, director of Louisville Metro RCS, said in a news release. "School supplies can get expensive, and we're proud this special allocation of federal CSBG funds will provide thousands of students with the supplies they need to achieve more this school year."

The first event was held Saturday at Valley High School.

Dawn Davis, youth services coordinator at Lassiter Middle School, said 1,400 backpacks were given away Saturday.

"The price of everything has gone up, and depending on what school supplies they're needing, JCPS has a general school supply list on their website where parents can go and see exactly what they need for each grade," Davis said. "But schools may ask for additional items. The back-to-school events ensure those kids are ready."

List of events include: