Local organizations and businesses prepare kids for school

Chick-fil-A at the Lansing and Okemos locations is collecting backpacks and school supplies for the Operation Backpack Campaign.

"We received a call from the Okemos location that they would like to help out some of the kids in need and that the Lansing location would be on board too so we received that last week and we were able to put this promotion together pretty quickly," said John Karasinski the Associate Director for Community Relations and Marketing at St. Vincent Catholic Charities.

On August 14th and 15 people who donate one item at either the Lansing or Okemos Chick-fil-A will receive one free item.

"In the mornings you can come in and get chicken minis or a chicken biscuit and from 10:30 until we close at 10 p.m. you can get a chicken sandwich or nuggets," said Brittni Biggee, a manager at the Chick-fil-A Okemos location.

Chick-fil-A got involved collecting backpacks and school supplies as a way to give back.

"We decided to participate with operation backpack because we're always looking for ways to serve the local community and this was a great way to be able to give back to the local children in this community," Biggee said.

Yvonne Caamul Canul, the Lansing School District Superintendent said it's nice to see the community help local kids get ready to back to school.

"Kids always like to have new things to go back to school whether they need them or not and so it's really exciting to see the community come out and make a decision about helping all of our students around the area."

The Lansing Human Relations and Community Services Department will also help kids get ready to go back to school by providing medical services and clothing items at an event called Connect 4 Kids

"Many kids go back to school and haven't had their physical, haven't had the up to date immunizations, haircuts, the whole nine yards, and even stuff as basic as clothing and shoes," said Joan Jackson Johnson the Director of Human Relations and Community Services for the city of Lansing.

The Connect 4 Kids event will be held on August 21st at the Lansing Center from 9:30am until 2:00pm.

Parents can bring their k-12 children and just need to show an ID.