Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

For the 19th year, students going back to school or to school for the first time got a little help with school supplies.

Albemarle Parks and Recreation hosted the 19th Annual Back to School event at the E.E. Waddell Center Aug. 2.

Students who will be in kindergarten through ninth grade starting Wednesday received pencils, crayons, rulers, paper, folders and backpacks.

Waddell Center director Billy McRae said the event has grown over the years, from 75 to upwards of 200 children receiving free school supplies.

“This is something that kind of helps the community and is a community effort where everyone’s buying into it from different banks, from the different churches in the community,” McRae said. “The theme this year was ‘Rise and Shine’ as to kids rising and going out there and shine during the year.”

McRae said he hoped students getting supplies would be “getting a good start to the beginning of the school year.”

Albemarle Police Chief Jason Bollhorst and several officers assisted in the efforts to give out supplies and books as well as hot dogs fresh off the grill.

Students also got to play games like shooting soccer balls at a goal defended by AP&R’s Oliver Webster. Free snow cones were also available for everyone in attendance.