Verizon-authorized retailer Round Room is giving away free backpacks for the upcoming school year at Gainesville area TCC and Wireless Zone locations on Sunday, July 28.
The giveaway, which starts at 1 p.m., is part of the 12th annual “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway,” an initiative aiming to alleviate some of the financial burden families bear with the school year.
“We believe in the power of community and the importance of education,” Round Room CEO Scott Moorehead said in a press release. “Our corporate team, store owners and store employees work hard to make this happen every year because they genuinely want to make a profound impact. They want to help ensure every student has the basic tools they need to start the school year off on the right foot.”
The average cost of school supplies for families is around $890, and a survey from Nerd Wallet found that 42%t of U.S. parents with kids in kindergarten through college said they would go into debt to pay for their child’s back-to-school supplies.
Round Room has provided more than 1.3 million children with backpacks through the “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway” since it started in 2013. This year, Round Room will give away more than $3 million worth of backpacks at over 1,000 TCC and Wireless Zone locations around the country. Any leftover backpacks will be donated to local schools of each store’s choice.
Round Room will also offer the inaugural “Golden Ruler” giveaway at this year’s “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway.” Ten random stores across the country will have one backpack containing a golden ruler keychain.
Anyone who gets a backpack with the keychain wins a $100 Visa gift card to use for other back-to-school related costs, and the school that the Golden Ruler winners attend for the 2024 to 2025 school year will receive a $1,000 Amazon Wishlist buyout to minimize personal spending for teachers on supplies.
“TCC and Wireless Zone’s annual Backpack Giveaway is historically known around the company as everyone’s favorite day of the year, and this year is no exception,” said Round Room Gives Executive Director Courtney Kibble in an email to Mainstreet. “Our stores truly enjoy making this event all about and for the community they serve. We have stores that will be giving away free drive-in movie tickets, having foam parties, dunk tanks, food trucks and face painting. Regardless of which location you visit this year, you are sure to have lots of fun.”
Families are invited to attend their local event to pick up one complimentary backpack per present child as supplies last. Visit wirelesszone.com to find the closest participating store to you.
Gainesville area store locations include:
- 15560 NW US Highway 441 in Alachua
- 17004 SE Highway 19 in Cross City
- 1604 N Young Blvd. in Chiefland
- 456 E Noble Ave. in Williston
It would be nice if Verizon spent 3 million on upgrading equipment in areas that they have crappy service costing this consumer $90.00 a month. One bar and dropped calls if I don’t walk outside.