Thousands lined up in the rain on Saturday- photo Convoy of Hope
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of people lined up to receive free school supplies, shoes and other items at a charity event in Wichita.
More than 5,000 people showed up Saturday for the Convoy of Hope, which handed out about 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and 2,500 pairs of children’s shoes. More than 680 people also got haircuts.
The event was held at Bethel Life Center. Last year’s event drew nearly 9,000 people.
Jason Bachman, outreach director for the national Convoy of Hope Charity told The Wichita Eagle that surveys conducted by the national charity show that 40 percent of the 82,000 people served annually by the national Convoy of Hope effort are children.
Organizers say companies like Cargill and the Wal-Mart Foundation have contributed to the effort.