Free backpacks, resources at giveaway in northeast Austin [Video]

AUSTIN, Texas — On Saturday, just three days out from the start of classes for Austin Independent School District, hundreds of families in Austin got help getting ready for the new school year.

The group gave away around 900 backpacks.

“It’s a beautiful thing to be able to not only have been in the community 18 years but to continue year after year,” said Michael Lofton, founder and CEO of African American Youth Harvest Foundation.

Dozens of other nonprofits and vendors also provided clothing, food, health care and other resources.

“It’s about truly meeting the needs of the community,” said Lofton. “All of the products and things that you see here today, pretty much everything is free, and that’s what we want: equal access to resources.”

Lofton said those partnerships between the organization and other groups continue beyond just Saturday’s event.

“I’m happy to say that over the years, we’ve been able to bring in 30-plus Black …