Thousands of Minnesota children will get backpacks filled with school supplies for the upcoming school year thanks to a large volunteer campaign on Thursday.
The Greater Twin Cities United Way, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx are hosting an Action Day to support students. Other teams taking part include the Minnesota Twins, United FC, Vikings, Wild and the St. Paul Saints.
Organizers hope to draw 4,000 volunteers to pack the backpacks with supplies. They then will fill four semi-trailers with 25,000 backpacks during the event, which will run from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.
The backpacks will then be distributed by 50 Twin Cities nonprofits to children in need.
Volunteers are invited to pack alongside members from Minnesota’s professional athletes. There will be games, prizes, a scavenger hunt, photo booth, trivia and station where kids can color bookmarks and write messages for the kids who will be receiving the backpacks.
HOW TO HELP
To volunteer, register online at the Greater Twin Cities United Way website www.gtcuw.org. All backpack assembly volunteers must be ages 8 and older.