Where to find free backpacks and school supplies in Rochester

Rochester-area parents worrying about getting back-to-school supplies for their children have a number of places to look for help.

For starters, the Rochester City School District and many other districts no longer ask families to provide their own paper, folders, pencils and other items; they're now instead funded in the district budgets for each classroom. Check with your school before you go shopping to see whether you need supplies at all.

Those who do need items, including backpacks, should still call their school first. Schools usually work with their own families to ensure everyone has what they need.

If you're still looking, try some of these giveaways over the next few weeks.

• ROC Royal's annual giveaway will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at Mount Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams St.
• Barakah Muslim Charity will host its annual backpack distribution from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at 584 Jefferson Ave.
• The Gerhardt Neighborhood Outreach Center, 890 N. Goodman St., will be distributing backpacks and school supplies from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20.
• Cut Pro's Barbershop and Conversance Business Solutions will be giving away school supplies and also haircuts from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at 1109 Portland Ave.

— Justin Murphy is a veteran reporter at the Democrat and Chronicle and author of " Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger: School Segregation in Rochester, New York." Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CitizenMurphy or contact him at jmurphy7@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Where to find free backpacks and school supplies in Rochester