Published September 01. 2020 12:07PM
The third annual backpack and school supplies giveaway coordinated by the Hispanic Center of Lehigh Valley and MEGA 99.5 was held Aug. 22 with a drive-up format due to COVID-19.
Sponsors included HGSK Lawyers, Northampton Community College, Patriot Home Care and St. Luke’s Hospital. Victor Martinez, president and programming director at MEGA 99.5, said that 1,500 backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, pencil boxes, hand sanitizer, face masks and sponsor materials were available to families with school age children.
Recipients lined up in their vehicles snaking through the St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church parking lot on East Fourth Street.
Students received backpacks, a goody bag from Patriot Home Care, and information pamphlets. “We’re trying to adjust to the times,” said Martinez, “and it’s an opportunity to talk with the community.”
PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBB Families lined up in the St. John's Windish Lutheran Church parking lot waiting for the backpack and school supplies giveaway event Aug. 22. More photos from the event on A2.
For the third year in a row MEGA 99.5 sponsored the event. President and programming director Victor Martinez and marketing director Bobby Williams handed out 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies as well as hand sanitizer and a facemask.
Staff from event sponsor Patriot Home Care provided a bag of goodies to participants, including a drinking cups and baseball caps.
A young recipient of a school backpack smiles in appreciation after receiving one from Victor Martinez, president and program director at MEGA 99.5, an event sponsor.
Volunteers from the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley hand out informational flyers to families at the backpack event.
