BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – “Backpacks for Good,” a back-to-school readiness event that provides free school supplies to area students, is coming to Benton Harbor on August 25.

The Whirlpool Corporation is collaborating with the Berrien Community Foundation for the event, which will be held from 3 – 6 p.m. in the employee parking lot at the company’s Riverview Campus at 600 W. Main Street.

Whirlpool employees will be filling 2,000 backpacks with school supplies like pencils, erasers, markers, notebooks, folders, and pencil bags, and handing them out to students during the event.

Students in the 49022 zip code are eligible to receive a backpack.  

Parents can pick up one backpack per child.

Families are encouraged to bring school-aged children to the event so the kids can pick out a backpack and visit with other community resources. The Benton Harbor Library, Benton Harbor Public Safety, the YMCA, and Intercare will be in attendance.  

The Berrien County Health Department will also be hosting a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the event site.