Local Verizon stores give away free backpacks

ELKHART, Ind. -- Verizon handed out backpacks Sunday at several different locations to families in need.

Just after fifteen minutes of handing out free backpacks to the community this afternoon, they were all gone.

The line was out the door at the Verizon off County Road 6 in Elkhart.

They started with 80 backpacks, but eventually they had to go out and got 50 more after they ran out.

A Verizon sales rep says it was all about easing the financial burden for families in the community as the first day of school is just around the corner.

Several other Verizon stores across Michiana were part of the initiative, giving away $3 million worth of backpacks in total.