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Hundreds of Alexandria children received new backpacks, school supplies and books Aug. 10 during a back-to-school giveaway at Charles Houston Recreation Center.

Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue organized the event with the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority. Together, they distributed more than 400 backpacks filled with supplies and over 800 books to local families.

ARHA’s Gaynelle Bowden-Diaz said the effort was about more than providing pencils and paper. Giving students the right tools, she said, helps them enter the classroom with confidence and prepares them to learn and succeed.

Former Alexandria City Councilman Willie Bailey founded Firefighters and Friends more than 25 years ago. The organization added the backpack program to its annual holiday toy drive roughly 12 years ago.

Bailey, who also serves as an ARHA commissioner, thanked the back-to-school sponsors and said their contributions made the distribution possible.

HRP Group sponsored the event for the fourth consecutive year. Amelia Chasse Alcivar, the company’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, said the partnership reflects HRP’s commitment to supporting Alexandria families as the company works to redevelop the Old Town North power plant site.

Other participating sponsors and organizations included InspireLit, the Alexandria Department of Recreation and Parks, Dominion NOVA Church, Alexandria’s police, fire and sheriff’s departments, and Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue.

Larry Brown of Dominion NOVA Church said church members were honored to work with ARHA and connect with parents and children through the giveaway.