Free school backpacks with supplies available

• 235,000 backpacks have been donated by TCC to stores throughout the nation.
• Hanover, Southern York and Red Lion are a few districts that will benefit from the initiative.
• Free backpacks will be available at specific stores between noon and 3 p.m. July 30.

On Saturday, families in Hanover, York, Dillsburg, Red Lion and Shrewsbury can get free backpacks filled with school supplies through TCC, a Verizon retailer. TCC is partnering with A Wireless, another Verizon retailer.

According to a news release, the program will have 235,000 backpacks nationally for students whose families are unable to afford their school supplies. Each participating TCC store will donate 250 backpacks, and each A Wireless store will donate 125 backpacks. Any leftover backpacks and school supplies will be given to local schools.

Families can pick up their free backpacks and school supplies between noon and 3 p.m. Saturday at select stores. The supplies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and only one backpack will be given to each child. The event will end when supplies run out.

"Every year, TCC employees and communities around the country look forward to the backpack giveaway," Scott Morrehead, CEO of TCC, said in a news release. "It brings our employees immense joy to give back to the young children in their communities, and we are proud to put so many smiles on the faces of the deserving families who have made this annual event such a success."

Each backpack will be stuffed with pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders and glue. It's estimated by the National Retail Federation that families spent approximately $97.74 on school supplies for children in grades K-12 in 2015.

Here are the local TCC locations where families will find free backpacks and supplies Saturday:

• Across from Sheetz, 2704 S. Queen St., York 
• Next to Rita's, 625 Lombard Road, Red Lion 
• Wal-Mart Shopping Plaza, 582 Shrewsbury Commons Ave., Shrewsbury 
• Giant Shopping Plaza, 864 Route 15, Dillsburg 
• Next to Texas Roadhouse, 189 Eisenhower Drive, Hanover
• Peebles Shopping Plaza, 1275 York Road, Gettysburg