Milwaukee Health Department distributes backpacks of PPE, school supplies to MPS students

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Health Department is helping students and their families prepare for a safe school year.

The health department handed out backpacks stuffed with school supplies at its annual Back-to-School fair Monday, Aug. 31.

Of course, the pandemic has complicated back-to-school plans, so in addition to traditional school supplies, organizers also made sure to include PPE like masks and hand sanitizer. 

Organizers say it's one less thing for parents to stress over.

"The parents have been so thankful and gracious to us, it's just one thing they don't have to think about," said Chair Sherida Strong-Rimmer. "There's PPE in there, sanitizers, face masks, to just sort of help our families get through this hard time."

The back-to-school fairs took place at four different Milwaukee public schools.

We're told 3,200 backpacks were stuffed and ready for handout between all of the locations.