Mora will be entering kindergarten at Butler Elementary School in September.

The 15th annual event put on by Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. provides backpacks and other school supplies to kids like Mora throughout Webster County. The event was held at Crossroads Mall Tuesday night.

Volunteers distributed backpacks to an estimated 750 kids, according to Alisa Schlief, family community services director with Upper Des Moines.

Each backpack, combined with school supplies, costs about $30.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Royce Mora, 6, of Duncombe, shows off his new backpack at Crossroads Mall Tuesday night.

Landon McMahon, 16, and Morgan Bodholdt, 12, both of Fort Dodge, helped with handing out the backpacks to students.

Between the two, they handled hundreds of backpacks throughout the evening.

Schlief said the goal of Upper Des Moines is to help students and families no matter the time of year.

“The program is never over,” she said. “Someone could move here in December. That’s what we are here for, is to help.”

Schlief is worried, however, that it might be the final year of giving away backpacks if funding does not increase.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Landon McMahon, 16, of Fort Dodge, searches for the tag on a backpack inside Crossroads Mall Tuesday night. Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. provided between 700 and 800 backpacks during the annual Back to School Bash, according to Alisa Schlief, family community services director.

“The backpack project is 100 percent donation-based,” she said. “We have been lucky enough to do this 15 years, but we are a little concerned for year 16.”

Still, she is happy that in the meantime, kids are getting the supplies they need.

“It’s been a good event,” she said. “Having it inside this year has been a real treat, too.”

Janelle Derrig, 10, of Fort Dodge, was the lucky recipient of a backpack with a fuzzy ball attached to it.

“I like how it feels,” Derrig said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Janelle Derrig, 10, of Fort Dodge, celebrates receiving her new backpack at Crossroads Mall Tuesday night. Derrig was particularly excited about the fuzzy ball attached to the backpack, she said. Her sister, Mackenzie Derrig, 11, is shown next to her. The two will be attending Fort Dodge Middle School this year.

Her sister, Mackenzie Derrig, 11, was happy to receive a similar backpack.

She is more excited to meet her teachers again, though.

“I love the teachers,” Mackenzie Derrig said.

Jaden Loeg, 14, was complimentary of the Fort Dodge Middle School.

“Fort Dodge Middle School is the best school ever,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Justin Moeller, 9, of Farnhamville, picks out his choice of chalk to write down what happiness means to him during the Back to School Bash at Crossroads Mall Tuesday night. The question was posed by the organization Building and Supporting Involved Communities.

“They give out candy and most people are nice,” Loeg added.

In another area of the mall, members of Community and Family Resources were helping students create spin art.

Mickie Shubin, Webster County Iowa Partnerships for Success coordinator, was there to help guide students.

“You pick three colors,” she said to Kadian McCollough, 5, of Fort Dodge. “Then just give it a squeeze.”

The end result was a colorful picture for McCollough to take home.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Kadian McCollough, 5, of Fort Dodge, gets some help from Mickie Shubin, Webster County Iowa Partnerships for Success coordinator at the spin art station during the 15th annual Back to School Bash Tuesday night. McCollough is going into kindergarten at Southeast Valley Elementary School.

At another table, Building and Supporting Involved Communities asked kids who passed by to write what happiness means to them.

BASIC is a group of community members, service providers and professionals who work to lower the disproportionate rate of minority families and youth involved with the human service and juvenile justice systems. The group is based out of Webster County.

Kati Swanson, a member of BASIC, said she likes to see kids get creative.

“We like to have kids draw pictures and write stuff,” she said. “We thought it would be neat to have kids tell what makes them happy.”

Families who are interested in registering with Upper Des Moines Opportunity can stop by their office, 113 S. 10th St., to fill out a registration form.

Those who wish to donate can call UDMO at 576-7774.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Morgan Bodholdt, 12, of Fort Dodge, carries a pair of backpacks to the next students in line at Crossroads Mall during the Back to School Bash Tuesday night. Bodholdt said she had handled dozens of backpacks at the event.