Published September 18. 2018 12:00AM
The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley opened its doors to hundreds of area students and their families for a back to school backpack giveaway Aug. 25.
Several community partners and sponsors combined their resources to present the event with each student receiving a new backpack filled with tablets, pencils and pens. Families lined the 500 block of East Fourth Street in Bethlehem patiently waiting for the 10 a.m. entry to start.
Upon entering students and their families were greeted by Hispanic Center Executive Director Victoria Montero and her staff and then ushered past several sponsor tables where they could gather additional information, receive a haircut or trim by students from the Beauty Institute, and receive a backpack from MEGA Radio program host Victor Martinez and his wife Maria Rivera. Martinez, who organized the event, said he hoped to make it an annual happening.
Over 300 backpacks were given away. In addition to the Hispanic Center, Beauty Institute and MEGA Radio, community partner St. Luke’s Hospital offered health tips and services, and other sponsors were Chevy 21, the law firm HGSK, and Playtime Daycare and Learning Center.
Cassandra Ortiz, a St. Luke's Hospital Community Care coordinator, explains to families waiting in line along East Fourth Street, how the process will work when they enter the Hispanic Center to collect backpacks for their children. St. Luke's is a community partner at the Hispanic Center.
