Over 1,300 Kids Score New Backpacks During Back To School Festival

DETROIT (WWJ) - From bike and backpack giveaways to carnival rides and free haircuts -one Detroit church has rolled out the stops for its annual back to school event.

Greater Grace Temple Church pastor Charles Ellis announced the names of several prize winners on Tuesday during the back to school event which saw a crowd of over 2,000 people.

WWJ's Stephanie Davis asked 12-year-old Nigel Daniel if he's ready to head back to school:

"Not really but I guess I'm going to have to get ready for it," he said.

Ellis says the back to school supply give-a-way was born out of the concern that teachers, who are so often digging into their own purses to make sure students have supplies, don't take the full financial burden.

"It's been a great all-around day," said Ellis. "The kids so much need this, because again, it's time to grind, it's time to get back into school ... because education is where it's at."

The church handed out over 1,300 backpacks to school kids during the event.