York County Sheriff’s Office donates 574 backpacks to school districts

When students enter the doors at schools across York County this month, district officials want to make sure every student is fit with a backpack.

More than 500 students who cannot afford a backpack this year will receive a new one, thanks to the York County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Foundation donated 574 backpacks to all four school districts Wednesday during the fourth annual Operation Back Up, a fundraiser to help supply the schools with the book bags.

The foundation paid $1,700 for the bags and used remaining funds and donations from the community and sheriff’s office employees to buy other school supplies, said office spokesman Trent Faris.

School district officials picked up the backpacks Thursday, where Kevin Tolson, a Republican running unopposed for York County sheriff in November’s election, helped load boxes into cars.

The foundation has donated school supplies since 2008, and began donating backpacks in 2012, Faris said.

– Tracy Kimball

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 9:17 PM with the headline "York County Sheriff’s Office donates 574 backpacks to school districts."