Children choose the right backpacks for the coming year at the event at Charles Houston Recreation Center

A young girl chooses a backpack from a volunteer while Councilwoman Alyia Gaskins looks on

Sergeant Cassandra Branch passes out bookmarks at the event at Charles Houston Recreation Center on Aug. 11

Firefighters & Friends to the Rescue, ARHA and HRP Group gathered backpacks, school supplies and more for students whose families would not have the resources to get what they need for school, which starts on Monday, 
Aug. 19.

“We gave away [more than 1,000] backpacks with supplies, over 200 pair of new sneakers and over 900 books,” said former school board member and retired firefighter Willie Bailey, who started Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue 26 years ago.

“As someone that did not always have the needed items for the start of school year, it’s an honor and a blessing to be a part of this worthy cause. It goes without saying that without the support of our sponsors this would not have been possible.“ 

Amelia Alcivar is head of corporate affairs for HRP Group, which is the firm that is redeveloping the power plant in Old Town North, and one of the event’s sponsors. “Today we’re out with our community partners here in Alexandria helping get local kids ready for school.”

Gaynelle Diaz, director of resident services at ARHA, said, “We are providing backpacks and school supplies and sneakers for kids to get them ready to go back to school so they can be prepared and ready to start the year off strong.” 

Bailey took a few minutes to explain how Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue got its start.

“As a firefighter, we were running calls on Richmond Highway in the 90s during the holidays, and we could see these kids didn’t have anything. There were no Christmas trees or gifts or anything like that. So we started collecting toys. At different fire stations we raised some $2000 the first year and went and bought some toys and took them to the kids that didn’t have anything.

“Now 20-some years later we’re giving out thousands of toys every Christmas, we’re giving out [thousands of] backpacks with school supplies, and [will give out] a total of about 4,000 brand new coats to needy families.”

To cover the costs of backpacks and school supplies, plus coats, plus toys, Firefighters and Friends must raise $150,000-160,000 each year. Bailey said donating monetarily helps the most. 

Go to https://www.ffandfriends2therescue.org/