Thousands of Students and their Families to receive Backpacks, School Supplies, Food and Masks at Mayor’s Back to School Fest presented by Shell

HOUSTON - Mayor Sylvester Turner joined representatives from Shell Oil and the Houston Food Bank to announce details of this year's push to help children and families successfully prepare for the new school year.

The  10^th Annual Mayor’s Back to School Fest presented by Shell on will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 7-8, 2020 in the NRG Park Yellow Lot.  To accommodate the growing number of students who need assistance, this year's Back to School Fest will be “drive-through” event over a two-day period.

Registration is recommended for participation in the fest: https://www.houstontx.gov/btsf/registermystudent.html

The annual fest presented by Shell Oil Company provides Houston area elementary students and their families with some of the tools they need to start the school year off right. In addition to distributing 25,000 backpacks with school supplies, the Mayor's Office of Special Events has partnered with the Houston Food Bank to provide food to the students' families.

Additionally, the Mayor's Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force will distribute face masks to ensure a safe return to school. With one in four Texas children living in poverty, the Mayor's Back to School Fest presented by Shell focuses on changing the future, one child at a time.

"The majority of Houston area students will begin the school year in a virtual classroom, but they still need supplies to succeed in their learning experience. Because of job losses, illness, and other challenges during the COVID-19 public health crisis, many Houston families cannot afford school supplies, said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "I thank our sponsors for stepping up to the plate to help. As a result of their generosity, thousands of young people will have the tools they need to start the school year off right."

Due to COVID-19, this new procedure for obtaining school supplies was implemented with the sole purpose of keeping the public safe and socially distanced.

“Shell is proud to be counted as a founding and presenting sponsor of the Mayor’s Back to School Fest – marking the ten-year anniversary of Shell’s partnership with the City of Houston,” said Scott Ballard, Shell Executive Vice President Human Resources, North America.  “Our commitment to supporting students and families prepare for academic success is unwavering, so too is our determination to play a meaningful part in the growth and economic vitality of the city we all call home.”

Partnering with the Houston Food Bank will benefit students and their families by providing much needed produce, dry goods, protein, and milk.

“Houston Food Bank is proud to be a part of the Mayor’s Back 2 School Fest, to help kids and families get ready for this important time of year,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of the Food Bank.  “While there still remains so many unknowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, what we do know is that some families need help preparing for this time of year, and they are still in need of food assistance.  We are happy to partner with Shell and City of Houston for this important event.”