Spearheaded again by The Factory Stores at the “Y,” last Saturday’s Backpack Giveaway saw more than 400 Tahoe-area children receive free backpacks stuffed with school supplies – up from about 240 backpacks given away last year. And two lucky students took home either a laptop computer or an iPod.

Factory Stores at the “Y” owner Shannon Castille sponsored the event for its fourth year.

“The Kiwanians were most helpful in filling and distributing backpacks, cooking and clean-up,” Castille said.

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“Standing in the sun and serving about 500 hot dogs was a worthy chore,” noted Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care’s Tom Millham, who donated the huge gas grill.

“And speaking of dogs, Donder, of El Dorado County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, was a big hit with the kids,” he added.

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El Dorado County Sheriff candidate Stan Perez, a co-sponsor of the event, said, “It was heartwarming for my wife, Julie, and me to participate in this event, and to see so many families in attendance. These children are our future, and donating to help prepare them for this exciting school year is yet another example of the level of community involvement I will continue to demonstrate, as well as expect of my entire department.”

Other co-sponsors included Barton Health and Kiwanis Clubs of Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Sierra and Kiwanis Sunrisers.