POCATELLO — Boxes and bags of school supplies, stacked and counted, were waiting to be sent home with a child.

    Gate City Christian Church and the City of Chubbuck have partnered with community businesses to give away 750 backpacks filled with necessary school supplies to needy children in the community.

    The church, 202 W. Siphon Road, hosts the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until all the supplies have been given out this Saturday.

    Josh Robinson, the assistant pastor, said it is a practical way to meet needs.

    “There’s are a lot of students who end up having to show up to school with only a few school supplies. They end up carrying them in a grocery sack,” Robinson said. “It’s about people who are hurting and we’re wanting to help out.”

     This year more area businesses are contributing to the success of the event.

    “The key to the event — we want to make sure every student who has a need is met,” Robinson said.

    The event does not just hand each child a backpack, but the experience is more like a shopping experience.

    After registration, children pick out a backpack and receive a school supply list from their school. Then children go from table to table to collect the items they need. Children will receive a punch card where they can obtain punches from different booths and enter it into a drawing to win various prizes.

    Robinson said vendors will have freebies for children such as vouchers for free eye, dental and physical check-ups. There will be three hair stylists on-site for free haircuts.

    On site will be Chubbuck Mayor Steve England, Portneuf Medical Center, Southeast Idaho Community Action Agency, Chubbuck Police and Fire Department, Idaho Kinship Project and others.

    Donations from TJ Maxx and Ross as well as private donations of gently-used clothing will be available.

    Last year the event gave out 552 backpacks with more than 1,000 people attending.

    For more information, call the Gate City Christian Church at 237-5002.