CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- More than 52,000 students in the Charlotte area will be heading back to school with brand new backpacks and supplies, thanks to a community effort led by The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, the Panthers, and Classroom Central.

Thursday morning, more than 700 volunteers from 30 different companies gathered at the Charlotte Convention Center for the 4th Annual Backpack Build, a growing initiative aimed at leveling the educational playing field for students in need.

The event, supported by the John M. Belk Endowment, will provide backpacks for kids in eight school districts across North and South Carolina.

According to Classroom Central, more than half of the students served live below the poverty line, making access to basic school supplies a significant c

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