Multicultural Centre of SWFL serves thousands in annual BIG Backpack event | News, Sports, Jobs

Event founder Leonardo Garcia and event chair Connie Ramos-Williams with City of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson at the 22nd annual BIG Backpack event at the Fort Myers Skatium. PHOTO PROVIDED

Jackie Holliday, a third grade teacher at Lehigh Elementary, volunteered to pack and distribute backpacks and groceries during the 22nd annual BIG Backapck event. PHOTO PROVIDED

Volunteers Jordan Renaud of Estero High and Alex Greenberg of Canterbury helped carry backpacks full of school supplies to the roadside distribution area. PHOTO PROVIDED

Destiny and Faith Turner from North Fort Myers were the first children to receive new backpacks and school supplies at the 22nd annual BIG Backpack Event. PHOTO PROVIDED

The Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida’s 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event took place at the roadside Skatium in Fort Myers on Sunday and served thousands of students and families.

More than 150 volunteers worked together over 1,500 hours of volunteer hours on the weekend of July 24-25. On Saturday, volunteers worked to stuff 2,000 backpacks with school supplies and 1,000 shopping bags with groceries. The Community Cooperative donated 17 pallets of food for distribution.

In the 22-year history of the event, almost 40,000 backpacks have been distributed to families. The event draws thousands of people each year, with the largest attendance reaching 15,000 during the height of the recession in 2008.

Event sponsors included presentation sponsor Neal Communities, WINK News, News-Press, Family News, Community Cooperative, Molina Healthcare, Comcasr and CONRIC PR + Marketing.

(1) Jackie Holliday Jackie Holliday, a third grade teacher at Lehigh Elementary, volunteered to pack and distribute backpacks and groceries during the 22nd annual BIG Backapck event. PHOTO PROVIDED (2) Leonardo Garcia Event Founder Leonardo Garcia and Event Chair Connie Ramos-Williams with Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson at the 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event at the Fort Myers Skatium. PHOTO AVAILABLE Volunteers Carrying Backpacks Volunteers Jordan Renaud of Estero High and Alex Greenberg of Canterbury helped carry backpacks full of school supplies to the curb. PHOTO PROVIDED Destiny and Faith Turner Destiny and Faith Turner of North Fort Myers were the first to receive new backpacks and school supplies at the 22nd Annual BIG Backpack Event. PHOTO PROVIDED