Hannah Kolstad: reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Saturday, July 29, the Hamilton County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition held a back-to-school giveaway, organized by Emily Lumpkin, Executive Director of the Coalition, at the Hamilton County Annex Building. The drive-through event began at 9 a.m. and ended around 2 p.m. Volunteers for the event handed students and families backpacks filled with paper, composition books, folders, pencils, pens, erasers, rulers and other school supplies through their car windows. The Hamilton County Health Department and Meridian Healthcare were also present as vendors and offered information to the families as well. Overall, the event was a huge success, and all 650 backpacks filled with supplies were given away.