Volunteers filled the Stevenson Elementary School gymnasium in Bellevue on Wednesday morning, Aug. 14, where they sorted through hundreds of back-to-school supplies as part of the 18th Annual Good Start Back To School program.

The event is a year-long effort by the local non-profit Congregations for Kids, a coalition of local congregations working together to ensure any student who needs supplies for back-to-school has what they need.

The coalition, with support from Eastside businesses and community organizations, gathers donations and stuffs backpacks to fulfill student requests, which have been compiled by the school district.

Since 1996, Congregations for Kids has filled more than 15,000 backpack requests from students in the Bellevue School District. This year, the program will provide backpacks and school supplies to approximately 1,650 students from low income families in the Bellevue School District – 100 more than last year.