Mayor Glenn Jacobs hosts his final SchoolMania as the annual giveaway reaches a record number of students.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (SMOKIES.LIVE) — Thousands of Knox County students will receive free school supplies Friday as Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs hosts the eighth annual SchoolMania event, marking what will be his final year leading the back-to-school giveaway.
The drive-through event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., or while supplies last, on Friday, July 24, in the parking lot of the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park.
Organizers say this year’s SchoolMania will be the largest in the event’s history. Thanks to donations from local businesses, churches, charities and community partners, 6,500 backpacks and 6,500 school supply bags will be distributed to students. Each supply bag contains more than $70 worth of essential school supplies.
“I’m excited that for the first time in the event’s history, we are also able to provide every student served through SchoolMania with a backpack on top of the school supply bag,” Jacobs said in a statement.
SchoolMania has grown into one of Knox County’s largest annual back-to-school outreach efforts, helping families prepare for the upcoming school year while easing the financial burden of purchasing classroom supplies.
This year’s presenting sponsors include the East Tennessee Foundation, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, Best Buy Metals, the Greenheck Group, Ice Bears Foundation, Target and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology–Knoxville.
Vehicles should enter Chilhowee Park at 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive and follow a designated one-way traffic pattern before exiting onto Magnolia Avenue. Event gates will open at 2 p.m., although school supplies will not be distributed before 3 p.m.
Mayor Jacobs is expected to attend the event and will be available for interviews.
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