Students and their parents will likely be called to pick up free school backpacks filled with supplies on Aug. 15, but that could change, said Charlotte Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services.

She said a road off of Beth Stacey Blvd. is being resurfaced by Kraft construction and she was waiting this weekend to hear back from them.

She has asked them to not work on the new road on that Saturday when hundreds of kids will show up to get free school supplies.

“Right now I am looking at Saturday, Aug. 15, but if that date changes, we will call those who have qualified to get the free supplies,” Nicely said.

The majority of the backpack have been donated by New Life Assembly Church. They have provided backpacks for several years to Lehigh Community Services.

“And we are getting several from local businesses and private individuals,” Nicely said.

Inside each backpack will be paper, pens and pencils, scissors, the things kids need,” she said.

The school supplies are for students from Kindergarten through Grade 8, students in elementary and middle schools.

Nicely said that as of this past weekend, some 189 kids through their families have made requests for free school supplies.

“I won’t be surprised that the number goes to 300,” Nicely said. “If it goes past 250, which will have, we will refer them to other places in Lee County where they may be able to get free school supplies,” she said.

“Someone from Community Services will call those applicants who have been approved for free school supplies to tell them exactly what time and what date they should show up at the agency at 9 Beth Stacey Blvd.,” Nicely said.

She said the backpacks and supplies are easily worth $25 or more if they were to be purchased from a retail store.

“We know there are a lot of families who can’t afford to buy school supplies this year. We are here to do as much as we can to help,” she said.