Free backpacks and school supplies distributed COVID style

PORTSMOUTH – For the sixth year, kids living in Portsmouth Housing Authority developments were treated to free backpacks and school supplies. But because of COVID-19, it looked a little different.

“Back to School Bash” was held at the Greenleaf Recreation Center on Sunday. The event included a cookout, with individual meals of hamburgers, cheeseburgers or hot dogs packaged and handed out to participants.

There was music and Kona Ice. But Tammy Joslyn of Operation Blessing and the Rec Center said the day looked a lot different…

“We had a lot of great donations,” said Joslyn. “Portsmouth Believers Church bought a lot of school supplies. And Det. Rochelle Jones of the Portsmouth Police hooked us up with Diane Fenton of the N.H. Department of Education. She got all of the backpacks donated.”

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