It might be hard to believe, but school is starting in less than a month. There’s still plenty of time to help kids who are in need of some of the basics before they hit the books.

For the third year in a row, the Back to School Blast will be distributing backpacks, school supplies, and socks and shoes directly to all four Llano Independent School District schools.

“Each year, we give out hundreds of pairs of shoes and socks; this past year, we gave out at least 500 pairs of shoes and socks,” said Dena Wilson, coordinator for the Back to School Blast and librarian at Llano Elementary School. “You cannot imagine how excited kids get about new backpacks, their own school supplies or a new pair of shoes. This alleviates a huge stressor for students and their families.”

All Llano Elementary School students will receive free backpacks and school supplies thanks partly to a partnership with Back to School Blast.

“The school used donated funds to buy the remaining supplies for all students on their campuses,” Wilson said.

Of course, the coronavirus changed Back to School Blast.

They once needed more than 100 volunteers at the event, which was held on the last Saturday in July.

“This year we’re not really having an event, but we wanted to provide for students in our area,” Wilson said. “Our hope is to be back next year with a super big event at the high school or junior high school.”

Especially during the pandemic, families are in need.

“Every year we need donations from the community to purchase the supplies, backpacks, and shoes,” Wilson said. “We had many generous donors this year.”

But if one thing is for sure, it’s that shoes are always in demand.

“We need all sizes of new tennis shoes for students,” Wilson said. “Shoes are expensive, get a lot of wear and tear, and feet grow.”

Back to School Blast is a nonprofit organization formed in Marble Falls in 2011 and expanded in 2018 to include LISD.

“The goal is to equip families with what they need for a positive and successful school year,” Wilson said. “Successful students positively impact the community, and skills and education enable students to overcome and break the cycle of poverty. We want every student to know they’re special and we believe in them, which is why we’re doing all we can to make sure they have what they need to be successful.”

Shoe donations can be dropped off at Pittsburg Baptist Church Clothes Closet on Tuesday and Thursday, or to school nurses at any of the four LISD campuses.