With the help of three different organizations needy families are receiving some help with school supplies this year.

World Vision donated 600 backpacks to families dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, said World Vision Mississippi Grant Manager Laura Humbles. The backpacks had various school supplies packed inside such as loose-leaf paper, glue, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers and crayons, Humbles said.

“The idea is that we’re helping people affected by the hurricane … this is just one less thing they have to worry about,” Humbles said.

The line was long and the people plentiful who came to take advantage of the assistance. Parents first had to register before escorting children to pick out the color of their new backpack from a girls and boys table.

Family First Resource Center helped to organize the event, said Sylvia Mark director of Family First. The worked with Humbles to alert families about the event at the Rose of Sharon church in Picayune where residents from all around the county were invited to take advantage of the donations.

To get the word out the center used notices in the newspaper, radio, flyers and word of mouth, Mark said.

The center also offers free of charge such services as parenting, anger management, accident prevention and healthy marriage classes, Mark said.

Fran Simmons of Rose of Sharon Church in Picayune said Humbles had contacted the church concerning a place to distribute the backpacks.

“We were more than happy to assist World Vision help the community, there’s so many wonderful thing that can happen in our community,” Simmons said.

Residents county wide and beyond to Forrest County were welcome to come take advantage of the backpacks, she said.