Tucson back-to-school events that provide backpacks, supplies and fun

The Fourth Annual Pima County Sheriff’s Department Badges & Backpacks will offer all of the above from 8 a.m. to noon at the Tucson Convention Center.

The event, which served about 4,000 people last year, has expanded to fill three exhibit halls at the convention center this summer with the help of presenting sponsor Banner Aetna, a joint venture with Banner Health Systems and Aetna Life Insurance Co.

In addition to the distribution of 2,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies, students and their families can enjoy the triple bonus of a health fair, safety station and family fun activities and promotions.

Tara Barrera, a sheriff’s department marketing specialist, said the one-stop event is designed to provide convenient assistance to students in need.

“This is an all-inclusive event that prepares students for the school year and shows the strength of our commitment and bond to our community. Our goal is to equip the youth for a safe and healthy school year,” said Barrera.

Banner Aetna is equally committed to supporting local students, according to Ray Eveleth, senior account executive for Banner and Aetna public and labor divisions.

“Having been part of the Tucson and Southern Arizona community for years, we feel it is critical to support this program and help families and kids who possibly don’t have access to some of the basics for going back to school,” said Eveleth, who will be among the volunteers stuffing backpacks with school supplies for the event.

The event will feature many organizations on hand with activities and resources available.

Fourth Annual Pima County Sheriff’s Department Badges & Backpacks

When: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 28.

Where: Exhibit Halls A, B and C in the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.

Cost: Free.

Festivities at the newly-expanded event include free backpacks stuffed with school supplies for children while supplies last. Children must be present and enrolled in K-12 to receive backpacks. The event will also feature a health fair with free vision and dental screenings and free immunizations by El Rio Health; safety stations including the anti-drug task force, gun safety, stranger danger, free fingerprinting and information on after-school programs. Families can also enjoy character meet and greets, exercise activities, cooking demonstrations for healthy snacks and visits with officers of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit and motorcycle units. Other family events include arts and crafts, entertainment and more. For more information, visit the website at tucsonconventioncenter.com or call 351-4615.

Officers with the Tucson Police Department, the UA Police Department and the sheriff’s department find their involvement in the Sixth Annual Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation Back to School Safety & Health Fair equally rewarding, according to Bonnie Faircloth, executive director of the foundation.

Faircloth said that approachable, one-on-one contact between law enforcement officers, students and parents has always been a key component of the fair, where students visit stations staffed by different officers to receive various school supplies.

“We want kids to know that law enforcement officers are their friends and they can come to them if there is anything at all that they need. These officers are experts on safety issues regarding children and their parents and they want to engage in a positive atmosphere to let families know that police are there to help and protect them,” Faircloth said.

This year, the effort will expand from its centralized location at Park Place mall to include an event in Marana. Students and families can visit with the Marana Police Department at a “satellite” location from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Marana Middle School Gymnasium at 11285 W. Grier Road.

Sixth Annual Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation Back to School Safety & Health Fair

When: 9 a.m to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 28.

Where: Center Court and east Hallway near Sears in Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway.

Cost: Free.

Festivities include opportunities to visit with officers of the Tucson Police Department, the UA Police Department and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, including specialized units such as K-9, SWAT, motorcycle, START Program that focuses on new teen drivers; school resource officers and more. Booths will provide information on internet safety, anti-bullying, school resources, home security and more, as well as free school supplies. Other services include more than 500 free bicycle helmets provided by Tucson Medical Center, free booster seats while supplies last for children ages 5 to 8 (child must be present, weigh more than 40 pounds and be under 4-feet, 9-inches tall) and free fingerprinting for children in K-12. For information, or to make a donation online to support the purchase of school supplies, visit the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation website at soazlef.org or call 207-2878.

In-kind donations of school supplies or backpacks can be dropped at 7660 E. Broadway, No. 205, or call 207-2878 to arrange for a pick-up.

Students in South Tucson can visit The Arizona Bilingual News 5th Annual Kidz’ Expo & Back to School Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road.

Coordinator Alma Gallardo said last year’s event hosted about 3,000 people, and she welcomes donations to make school supplies accessible to more children from low-income families.

“We will have about 1,000 backpacks and school supplies, along with bicycles and raffles and other things. School supplies cost a lot of money and I wish we could have more backpacks. We have lots of different options for donations, so if people want to help in any way, all they need to do is call us,” she said.

The Arizona Bilingual News 5th Annual Kidz’ Expo & Back to School Event

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 28.

Where: El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road.

Cost: Free.

Students ages 6-13 can receive free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last. Festivities also include music, entertainment and a bike raffle. For more information, visit tucne.ws/ycm or call 305-4110.