HOUSTON — Mattress Mack teamed up with Crime Stoppers Houston today to distribute free backpacks full of school supplies for Houston-area children heading back to class. They were forced to shut down a little early after running out of backpacks.
The drive-thru event was scheduled to end at 3 p.m. or while supplies last.
Families who attended the drive-thru event received one backpack for each child who was with them.
Crime Stoppers was also be there to offer school safety resources "to ensure families have the critical tools for a safe and successful school year." It's part of the 25th Anniversary of its Safe School Institute.
School safety and the costs of going back to school are among the top concerns of parents who have taken part in our Education Station back-to-school survey.
“The most important thing for a mother to know when she drops that 6-year-old off for the first day – we all remember our first day of first grade – is that child is gonna be happy, safe and learn,” Mack said at a news conference. “I think that’s something that all of our children are certainly entitled to, and all of us adults need to work on it every day.”
Mack said everyone can do their part to keep our families safe.
"It's simple, if you see something, say something."
The FBI's Houston office also took part in the news conference.
“The public’s help is critical to our efforts to stop mass shootings before they happen and to discourage individuals from making hoax threats,” FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jeanette Milazzo said. "After almost every investigation of a mass shooting, we discover that someone knew something but, at that point, it’s too late.”
WATCH: Entire news conference
Gallery Furniture is also hosting a Kentucky Flood Relief Drive, including collecting school supplies for children there, at its store at 6001 North Freeway. You can also drop off cash, checks or gift cards for flood victims. Mack is collecting donations on this gofundme.com page, as well, and they've raised over $10,000 so far.
They even sent a team of volunteers to Kentucky to help clear trees and muck out flooded homes.