Nearly 6,000 school children in Springfield will have free school supplies thanks to the hard work of some volunteers.
About 50 volunteers arrived at food supply company Sodexo in the Indian Orchard neighborhood to fill brand new backpacks with school supplies on Monday.
About 4,500 bags were stored in a truck trailer to be handed out later this month.
"Come to the park with your parent and we donate. It's a great day at the park. It gets very crowded so I suggest you come early," said Henry Figuerredo of Sodexo.
This is the seventh year the backpack program has been held in Springfield.
They will be given away in three weeks on Aug. 24 in Blunt Park.
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