Nearly 500 backpacks filled with school supplies will be given out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Richmond Police Activities League's gymnasium at 2200 Macdonald Ave.
Children who wish to participate need to sign up beforehand with the police activities league in person or by calling (510) 621-1221.
Pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Fautino De Los Santos will be stopping by around noon to help hand out the backpacks, Abetkov said.
The event is free and open to children between the ages of 5 and 18, but the supplies are geared mostly toward students in grades K-4.
Each backpack contains a binder, pencils, erasers, pens, markers, crayons, a pencil box, glue, rulers, scissors and a water bottle. The backpacks will also contain crime prevention material and information about the city's daytime curfew ordinance, Abetkov said.
The event will also be an opportunity for children to check out the programs offered by the Richmond Police Activities League, which include a homework club, a computer center, a music recording studio, anger management counseling, scouts programs and numerous sports programs, Abetkov said.
The event is being organized by the organization Backpacks 4 Their Future. The backpacks were purchased with donations from PG&E, the Oakland A's, the Richmond Police Officers' Association, the Richmond Police Managers' Association and the Richmond Police Activities League, Abetkov said.
