Valdosta City School students will get a shot at receiving a free backpack on Friday, if they show up on time.

In its fourth year, Operation Good Start has expanded this year to cover all the VCS schools in giving away free backpacks, event coordinator Shalonda Sanders said.

On Friday, July 25, at J.W. Saunders Park on River Street from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the first 100 students from each school will receive a certificate for a free backpack.

The event started at Southeast Elementary as a way to encourage students and parents to come out to open house nights at the school, she said.

“One of the most important things parents can do is meet their child’s teacher in a positive environment,” Sanders said. “Teachers will reach out to parents if they know they can.”

The dismal turnouts at open houses, Sanders said, had her losing faith in how area residents felt about education.

Seeing the turnouts at Southeast Elementary School for Operation Good Start had Sanders changing her tune.

“People believe in education still,” Sanders said. “People still believe in the city school system.”

After several parents with students in other schools approached Sanders about the possibility of doing the event a system wide event was planned.

Friday night, representatives and administrators from each school will be on hand to scan rosters and check students’ names off when they come to collect a certificate, Sanders said.

On the night of the student’s open house he or she will present the certificate at the school and receive a bag filled with supplies.

“We need to understand as leaders and volunteers within this community that if we don’t educate and train the children to be something then they won’t be,” Sanders said.

With the ever increasing prices of everyday needs and schools cutting budgets, Sanders said, the backpack giveaway is a way to help parents that may not be able to afford the basic essentials for their children to start school.

“If a student doesn’t have supplies, they are already behind,” Sanders said.

The book bags will be filled with pencils, paper, rulers, scissors, pencil pouches and three-ring binders.