Buffalo Rock Pepsi, Target Join Forces to Help Students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Buffalo Rock, Tuscaloosa's local Pepsi distributor, has partnered with Operation Backpack, Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama, the YMCA of Tuscaloosa and their newest sponsor, Target of Tuscaloosa, to collect school supplies for children in need.

Operation Backpack is a nationwide fundraising initiative designed to provide children in need with a backpack stuffed full of school supplies to help prepare them for classes. Additionally, Buffalo Rock is donating a portion of all its sales to towards the purchase of backpacks and school supplies.

"We started Operation Backpack two years ago with the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama in an effort to give our kids the tools they needed to be successful in the classroom," said Shane Reeves, Membership Director at YMCA of Tuscaloosa. "The overwhelming support we received from the community allowed us to help even more children, so we have tried to increase the number of children we are able to help each year."

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Operation Backpack provided 102 new backpacks to students last year in a drive-thru event.

"Target is our new sponsor this year, and we are very excited to have them on board. Buffalo Rock has displays up at Target and boxes are available for people wanting to donate," Reeves said. "Target and Buffalo Rock have been very supportive of our efforts and we look forward to working together to make this the most successful year yet."

Donation boxes can be found in the Target in Tuscaloosa, Buffalo Rock's Tuscaloosa office, the YMCA of Tuscaloosa, or the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama's Jaycee Park Unit through August 8.

Those looking to send a monetary donation can do so online here.

Each new backpack will be filled with:

• 2 one subject composition notebooks
• 2 spiral notebooks
• 1 package of loose leave 8.5 x 11 paper (wide ruled)
• 1 package of pens
• 2 24-pack of crayons or 8-pack of markers or colored pencils
• 1 package of #2 pencils
• 2 pink erasers (medium size)
• 1 pair of child safety scissors
• 1 2-pocket folder
• 1 glue bottle/glue stick
• 1 bottle of hand sanitizer
• 1 can of Lysol spray or 1 pack of baby wipes
• 1 box of Kleenex
• 1 personalized note to your child