Verizon Wireless retailer Round Room LLC will distribute free backpacks to local students on Sunday, July 26, as part of a nationwide initiative to ease the financial burden of back-to-school costs.
The 14th annual “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway” begins at 1 p.m. local time at participating locations, including 19 Wilton Road in Peterborough and 459 West St. in Keene. Nearby stores in North Walpole and Milford will also participate.
Backpacks will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one per child present. Any remaining inventory will be donated to local schools.
This year’s drive will also feature a “Golden Ruler” contest. Forty-seven participating stores nationwide will hide a golden ruler keychain inside one backpack. The student who finds it will receive a $250 Visa gift card for additional school supplies such as shoes, lunchboxes, or stationery.
Nationally, Round Room plans to distribute more than 140,000 backpacks valued at over $3 million across its 1,200 TCC and Wireless Zone stores. Since launching the giveaway, the retailer has provided more than 1.6 million backpacks to students.