The Pima County Sheriff's Department hosted a back-to-school event Saturday: "Badges & Backpacks" from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center.
PCSD says deputies, civilians and volunteers have stuffed one thousand backpacks with essential school supplies.
Within 40 minutes, all of the backpacks were gone. PCSD Deputy Courtney Rodriguez explained location and outreach were two big factors in why the event worked out so well.
She described the event as a big success.
"I saw a lot of lit up faces," she said. "The kids were super excited. Some of the people that got here early got to pick out their colors, and you know, things like that. They were very happy, and you could kind of see a look of relief on some of the parents faces when they could see that their kid would at least have a backpack to start off the school year with."
One backpack per person was given. The event drew people from all over the county.
Specialty units including School Resource Officers, the Pima Regional Bomb Squad, Motors, Canine and several other community partners were at the event.
PCSD's Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers were also there to provide child fingerprint services and to help with any traffic-related issues.
