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<p>Landon Pollock, 6, will be heading to a new school next year for first grade, but thanks to a backpack giveaway on Saturday, he&#8217;s ready.</p><p>For Pollock, of Exeter, and many other children the start of a new school year means the purchase of items such as pencils, book bags, notebooks and rulers.</p><p>Unfortunately, the cost of these items often puts a financial burden on many parents.</p><p>Pollock smiled as he looked at the contents of his new backpack &#8212; a brand new folder in his favorite color, pencils and a notebook. He got his backpack and school supplies thanks to the Cellular Connection and Verizon Wireless&#8217; &#8220;School Rocks Backpack Giveaway Program.&#8221;</p><p>Area stores, including ones in Wyoming and Edwardsville, participated in the effort on Saturday. The Edwardsville store gave away about 200 backpacks, while the Wyoming store giving about 60.</p><p>Nationally, about 230,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were given to students at various locations across the country.</p><p>Yale Wolfe, store manager in Edwardsville, said the giveaway is part of a corporate culture, which focuses on assisting the community throughout the year.</p><p>&#8220;Each quarter is different,&#8221; he said. &#8220;During the holidays, for example, we focus on providing food. Corporately, they call it &#8216;culture of good.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>There was music and refreshments during the giveaway.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re playing top 40 dance music,&#8221; said Wolfe.</p><p>Donna Tyson, of Exeter, brought her four grandchildren &#8212; ages 12, 10, 6, and 5 &#8212; to the event in Wyoming with each selecting a new backpack in their favorite color.</p><p>&#8220;People don&#8217;t have money,&#8221; she said. &#8220;This is wonderful.&#8221;</p><p>Kevin Shah, store manager in Wyoming, said he enjoyed seeing the children smile as they came into the store and picked a backpack.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a fun day for children and for staff,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m liking it.&#8221;</p><p>The National Retail Federation has estimated the average person with school-aged children will spend over $85 on back-to-school items each year.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">David Lightfoot Jr. gets help picking out a backpack at the Verizon store in Wyoming Saturday as part of the company&#8217;s annual backpack giveaway on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>David Lightfoot Jr. gets help picking out a backpack at the Verizon store in Wyoming Saturday as part of the company&#8217;s annual backpack giveaway on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Page Partington, of Exeter, holds her choice of a backpack at the Verizon store in Wyoming as part of the company&#8217;s annual backpack giveaway on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Page Partington, of Exeter, holds her choice of a backpack at the Verizon store in Wyoming as part of the company&#8217;s annual backpack giveaway on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Logan Gensel and his sister, Dakota, of Plains Township, picked out their favorite backpacks. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Logan Gensel and his sister, Dakota, of Plains Township, picked out their favorite backpacks. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tatalia and Amari Edwards, of Wilkes-Barre, picked out their favorite backpacks Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Tatalia and Amari Edwards, of Wilkes-Barre, picked out their favorite backpacks Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sean Grady, Kyle Mazzillo and Arianna Grady, all of Wilkes-Barre, look for backpacks. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL-07312016-backpack-5-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Sean Grady, Kyle Mazzillo and Arianna Grady, all of Wilkes-Barre, look for backpacks. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Backpack giveaway readies children for school