Event organizer and sponsor Dickie Baxter started his count down on-stage as children lined up on the grass at Wooster Grove Memorial Park in Walden. Clutching paper tickets, kids eagerly waited for Baxter to end his countdown.

“Three . . . two . . . one!”

One by one, kids turned in their tickets for backpacks loaded with school supplies. They unzippered the backpacks and peered inside, smiling at the contents.

Volunteers handed out approximately 600 free backpacks filled with school supplies to area children last Saturday for the 11th annual Backpack Giveaway. Baxter estimates between 100 and 200 more will be given out at another giveaway event in Maybrook on Aug. 29.

Any backpacks that are not given away will be donated to local churches and nurses offices, Baxter said.

Fidelis Care donated the backpacks, sponsors collected the school supplies and more than 30 volunteers stuffed backpacks the week before the event.

Children also received free haircuts from The Barber Lounge in Walden and Fox Hill supplied free face painting and crafts.

Backpacks were available to anyone, regardless of socioeconomic background. The annual event combats bullying by providing a place for kids of all backgrounds to gather together, play and make new friends before school starts, Baxter said.

Other contributors included Licensed 2 Sell, All in One Catering, Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan, Walden Savings Bank, Walden Police Department, Walden Recreation and Parks Department, Walden Rotary Club, Montgomery Self Storage, Hunter Insurance and Orange County Transport.