DESTREHAN — To help St. Charles Parish families with back-to-school expenses, United Way of St. Charles is partnering with Covenant Church and Blessed to be a Blessing to provide free backpacks, school supplies and hygiene kits to local children.

The Back-To-School event is being held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Covenant Church Youth Center Aug. 1, located in the rear of the church at 1973 Ormond Blvd. in Destrehan.

Free backpacks, school supplies and hygiene kits will be distributed to the first 700 participants.

A parent or guardian must be present with child(ren) to receive the supplies. In addition to the supplies, the back-to-school event will provide free food, health screenings, giveaways, information and resources.

Door prizes will also be awarded, including a laptop computer for a school-age child.

“United Way of St. Charles recognizes that during tough economic times, it often becomes difficult for struggling families to meet even their most basic needs,” UWSC Director of Community Impact Kacy Kernan said.

“By providing school supplies to those families, we feel like we are saving them a substantial expense and allowing them to be able to put those funds, normally allocated to school supplies, toward the basic necessities of life.”

For more information, call 985-331-9063.