[caption id="attachment_37317" align="alignright" width="329"]<a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/RES9085-e1535028684867.jpg"><img class="wp-image-37317 " src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/RES9085-e1535028684867-810x1024.jpg" alt="" width="329" height="557"></a> Volunteers Naomi Greene, Greg Hogan, and Ervin Atkins fill book bags. Photos by Bob Sofaly.[/caption]

Hundreds of area school children, parents and volunteers filled The Shed for the second annual Back To School Book Bag Bash Drive on Saturday, Aug. 11, in Port Royal. The “Bash” was sponsored by the non-profit Mentoring Young Minds organization.

Event organizer Roger Gray said last year’s inaugural drive gave away more than 400 backpacks. “This year we have 500 pre-registered recipients and another 100 that just walked through the door,” Gray said.

Gray added that the jump castles and a hotdog lunch were also available. The organization also offers mentoring and youth counseling to all children. Gray stressed that all the programs including book bags and lunch were 100% free.

[caption id="attachment_37318" align="aligncenter" width="1020"]<a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/RES9062.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-37318" src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/RES9062-1024x715.jpg" alt="" width="1020" height="712"></a> Parents and volunteers sort through the items separated by age groups to go into book bags during the Back To School Book Bag Bash Drive.[/caption]