Wendy Harper/MDN Jailyn Davis, left, volunteer, helps Natalie Menezes, 10, and her mother Cyara Rodrigues, from left to right, to collect back-to-school supplies at the Minot Salvation Army Saturday, Aug. 16.

Despite a gray and chilly morning, hundreds of families lined up at the Minot Salvation Army on Saturday, Aug. 16, to take part in the annual backpack distribution, an event that provided free school supplies to local children.

The program, supported by the Minot Rotary Club and community partners, collected enough donations to fill 499 backpacks. Families who registered in advance were guided by volunteers as children selected their own backpacks and filled them with grade-specific supplies such as notebooks, pencils, crayons, scissors, and rulers.

“A lot of what we do is to help

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