Hundreds of students will receive free backpacks and school supplies at the fourth annual Better Together Book Bag Giveaway at House Three Thirty Aug. 6. 

The event is presented by Chase and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties and the Educational Empowerment Group in conjunction with Signal Akron. 

Last year, about 2,000 students got a free backpack during the event, which is aimed at helping K-12 students prep for the upcoming school year. 

“Our hope is that every family leaves not only with school supplies, but also with new relationships and resources that will continue to support them throughout the year,” said Ace Epps, a community manager with Chase.

This year’s event begins at noon and runs until 6 p.m. Attendees can start at House Three Thirty at 532 W. Market St. or head across the street to I Promise HealthQuarters, where students can get sports physicals, dental checks and vision checks for the school year. 

Stephanie Myers Bussan of the LeBron James Family Foundation, which built House Three Thirty, said a DJ will be playing music all day, and the first arrivals will get free ice cream from Mitchell’s, one of House Three Thirty’s on-site vendors. Starbucks will also be available for purchase along with pizza. Games and activities for children will take place.

“The energy in House Three Thirty is so contagious when you walk in there and the kids are so excited,” she said. “Plus, the parents, the grannies, the aunties, the uncles are so excited because they know it’s one more check mark off their list for a backpack and school supplies.” 

Attendees will receive a SignalPassport when they arrive with placeholders for stamps from each of the stations they can visit. Once attendees fill out their passports, they can be entered into an hourly drawing for prizes, including laptops. 

“This is about much more than giving away backpacks,” Epps said. “It’s about helping families prepare for a successful school year by connecting them with resources that can make a real difference in their lives. If kids are ready to succeed in school, then we’re helping them succeed in life.”

Editor’s note: JPMorganChase is a sponsor or Signal Akron.

Kristine Gill is a freelance writer based in Willoughby with experience covering real estate, crime, higher education and health. She majored in newspaper journalism and creative writing at Kent State and runs a fiction workshop for local writers. She spent a decade living in Florida, working first as a reporter for the Naples Daily News. She later worked as a media relations specialist for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.