BILLINGS- With COVID-19 restrictions around the world, school may look a little different this year.
Verizon Cellular Plus stores in the Billings area are teaming up to make sure that no matter the format, the kids have new school supplies. The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and ends when supplies run out.
"With uncertain times we definitely want to give back to the community, so we're giving backpacks out to kids in our community, we're going to be doing that this Saturday," Cellular Plus Territory Assistant Manager Austin Carroll said.
All donations remain local, and people can sponsor backpacks, knowing that they will go to children in the Billings area.
"It's a big group effort. It started with our company, they decided that we wanted to donate backpacks to the community, well they started asking employees if they wanted to get involved, and we started donating," Carroll said. "And after that, vendors started donating and then we started accepting donations from community members."
There are no requirements to be a Verizon customer: no application, no hoops to jump through, just pick your color and go.
"We do ask that if you're an adult that you have a kid with you, and if you don't only one backpack per person at that point," Carroll said.
Six locations participated in this year's giveaway:
611 Hilltop Road
1701 Grand Avenue
111 S. 24th St. West
4005 Montana Sapphire Drive
700 Johnson Lane in Lockwood
401 First Avenue South in Laurel
Tables will be set up outside each location.
