700 Students Receive Free Backpacks at Margate Middle School Resource Fair

by David Volz July 31, 2026

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Volunteers hand out backpacks. {David Volz}

Sabine Phillips loved seeing families come and select backpacks filled with school supplies for the upcoming school year.

As principal of Margate Middle School, Phillips knows that many families are struggling. She was glad to host the Back-to-School Resource Fair, which included 700 backpacks for children. The backpacks were provided by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. HandsOn South Florida helped with the distribution on July 30.

“This is a great community event, and we are reaching out to the community,” said Phillips.

Each child received a backpack filled with pens, pencils, and notebooks, according to Kenneth King, spokesperson for the Children’s Council. “We want to make sure that every child is prepared for the first day of school, and we know that giving each child a backpack with school supplies will help parents,” said King.

Volunteers hand out backpacks. {David Volz}

Margate Commissioner Arlene Schwartz attended the event. “I am glad to see families getting backpacks, and I want to support Margate Middle School,” she said.

U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz also attended and said she was glad to see children getting backpacks to help them prepare for school.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.