The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries hosted their annual Backpack Distribution Fair on Tuesday in partnership with the Friends In Need Food Bank and the support of Staples in Maple Ridge.
For the past two weeks, Staples raised thousands of dollars to fill backpacks with school supplies for children in need in the school district. Last year they raised $22,000 and this year they aimed to raise $25,000.
Some of those backpacks were available at the distribution fair, a private event that is held at the end of August to hand out back-to-school supplies for children in need and their families at the Maple Ridge Baptist Church.
There was a carnival with live entertainment, free food and treats for the children, games and a bouncy castle.
The Friends In Need Food Bank handed out bags of food including fresh fruit.
Numerous other local service providers were also present including Maple Ridge Dentistry For Kids, the ACT Arts Centre, Ridge Meadows Hospice Society, Community Services, ISS of B.C., Freedom Session and the Fraser Valley Regional Library and Denise Anderson’s Hair Studio who provided free back-to-school haircuts.