Thousands of kids receive school supplies - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 47) -- More than a thousand area students received a little help when it comes to filling their backpacks. Friday is the second day of distribution for United Way of Olmsted County's Running Start for School initiative.

Kids in kindergarten through 12th grade that are eligible for free or reduced lunches can take advantage of the help.

"If you get an assignment from a teacher saying that you need to write a report and you don't have any notebooks or pens, you can't do the report and you can't get ahead in school," said Running Start Coordinator Lacey Patzer. "We want to help kids get all their homework done and get everything they need to succeed in school."

This year's goal is to provide more than 4,000 students with school supplies.

One more distribution day remains in Chatfield on Monday. The United Way can still use donations of cash or backpacks before then. Donations are collected at the United Way office.