By Jack Orloff

Parents and their children were moving and dancing to a DJ’s music at Oak Springs Elementary on Monday while waiting to collect a free backpack and school supplies. While the event was an outdoor, drive-thru event, the pull of the music was too strong for some. 

Austin ISD, in partnership with Office Depot and Domtar Paper, distributed 1,000 backpacks and $20 Office Depot gift cards to all Oak Springs and Rodriguez Elementary students as part of the fourth-annual Start Proud drive-thru event.

"We want to make sure that students get backpacks, school supplies, and a gift card that they need to be confident, prepared, and proud and have a great chance to start the year off strong," said Chris Edler, Office Depot’s vice president of inside sales.

As the DJ spun his records, volunteers from Office Depot and Domtar Paper helped distribute backpacks during the drive-thru event, offering free water and hamburgers as families pulled out of the driveway.

"As the saying goes, It takes a village to raise a child," Principal Cynthia Jackson said. "This program allows our students to come in prepared with some of the supplies that will support their learning experience."

On top of donating backpacks, Office Depot will also be accepting donations in all Austin retail stores, with all proceeds going back to Oak Springs Elementary School.

"Events like this are essential to the students and families I represent," District 1 Trustee LaTisha Anderson said. "For those who may not have been able to acquire a backpack and school supplies for tomorrow, this is the perfect event, but it also shows our partners who have come out to ensure that they are doing a service for our community."

All leftover backpacks and supplies from the Start Proud event will go towards the district-wide backpack distribution across Austin ISD.

For more information on the Office Depot Start Proud program please visit www.officedepot.com/community.