The first day of school can be nerve-wracking for any kid. Students are already worrying about meeting new teachers and scrambling to finish their summer work — they shouldn’t have to stress about not having the school supplies they need. But for the 31% of Coachella Valley children experiencing poverty, that’s a real concern.

So, this back-to-school season, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is doing its part to make sure every student in the valley has all of the supplies they need to be ready to learn. On Aug. 14, the nonprofit will be providing free backpacks and supplies to 2,500 low-income students at its Backpack Bonanza Community Outreach Event. The event starts at 7 a.m., and children must be present to receive their backpacks.

To reach its goal of distributing more than 2,500

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