Children Can Get Free Backpacks, School Supplies

Children will be able to go back-to-school “shopping” for free on Saturday at .

The hospital has teamed with Operation: Kid Equip and Affinity Group Credit Union to provide Downriver children with free books, backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year.

will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is not required and there is no income requirement. However, school-age children must be present to receive their backpack and supplies.

The students will have the chance to pick out a backpack and stuff it with school supplies, provided by the three partnering organizations. The giveaway is limited to 350 children.

Hospital experts also will be hand to provide healthy snack demonstrations, free blood pressure checks and some fun activities for children and families.

The books being given away were purchased with donations made to WDET's Books for Kids drive in April. Operation: Kid Equip worked with WDET to turn every $5 donation into 20 children's books that are being distributed over the course of this summer. More than 22,000 books will be distributed to kids in need throughout metro Detroit. The Wyandotte event is set to receive at least 1,000 books to give away.

Operation: Kid Equip and Affinity Group Credit Union have worked together on similar giveaways for more than a year, according to Menachem Kniespeck, founder and CEO of Operation: Kid Equip.

Kniespeck is familiar with Wyandotte, as well, at last year with new backpacks and school supplies.

He said he’s looking forward to making an even greater impact this year.

“Our ongoing partnership with Affinity Group Credit Union and now our new relationship with Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital will allow us to increase our reach to children living in poverty,” Kniespeck said. “We’re excited to reach out to children in the Downriver region once again.”