New Haven Independent

Moments earlier his sister, Arshae, had picked out a free grey and black Badgers bookbag filled with supplies for Terrance to use on his first day of seventh-grade Wednesday at Wexler-Grant School. Arshae picked out a red bag for the start of her 10th-grade year at Metropoliltan Business Academy.

Arshae was doing the family bookbag shopping at the Monterey Place complex’s Community Resource Center Friday afternoon. Shopping with no need for cash or a credit card.

Elm Haven/ Monterey Residents Council President Barbara Whitaker (pictured) organized the event along with Sergio Rodriguez from the housing authority. They and Residents Council volunteers collected 175 bookbags and filled them with supplies for neighborhood kids. Such backpack giveaways have taken place across town this year.

Terrance thought at first that his bag was too big for his seventh-grade needs. After some coaxing from Arshae, it appeared Terrance would give the bigger bag a chance.