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SANFORD, N.C. — When Aza’ryah Seymore and A’zyris Blake first tried on their new bookbags, the older brother called out, “I got a new backpack!” and the younger one literally hopped up and down. 

As these boys and other young students get ready for school, key partners in the Sanford area have come together again to show that the community is rooting for them. 

"We want them to be able to start the school year with confidence, knowing that they have the tools and supplies that they need to have a successful school year,” said Jeanette Peace, the Let's Do It Together Foundation's lead administrator.

The Let's Do It Together Foundation partnered with ������Ƶ, Manna Church Sanford, and El Refugio to give away hundreds of backpacks to local students this week and to hold a Back to School Celebration on Saturday that welcomed more than 700 people. 

It means a lot to join with community partners who care so much about young people and their futures, said ������Ƶ President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman, who attended the event. 

For some children, this celebration may have been their first time visiting the college. 

 "We want them to know from very early on that they belong here, and we want the best for them," Dr. Chapman said. "We know the talent they have.” 

Melissa Worrell and Terence Van Horan attended the Back to School Celebration with three boys in tow, grabbing hotdogs, chips, and sodas for them from a serving line of ������Ƶ volleyball team members, before settling down to eat in the center’s courtyard. 

Each had their own favorite aspect of the event, from playing skeeball, getting new school supplies, and enjoying refreshments, to just going around and meeting new people. 

"It's a great opportunity to get families out and help them get ready for school," Worrell said. "It's kind of hard out there for some."

In the center’s exhibition hall, families tried their hands at inflatable games and picked up snacks and school supplies, with the help of volunteers from Manna Church Sanford. Others danced to tunes like Cotton Eyed Joe and YMCA. 

"We love our city, we love our schools, our kids, and so this is a great opportunity to help our city in this outreach," said Manna Church Lead Pastor Tom Johnson. Many of his church volunteers this year also helped last year, he said.  

Yanira Scott, Executive Director of El Refugio, said that when the other event partners approached them a couple years ago about joining the effort, it made a lot of sense. 

"We thought it was just the best idea," she said, also pointing to the variety of resources and information available for families from different organizations at the event. "It’s just being able to connect our community members back into their community."