IMMOKALEE – For the last 10 years Lipman Family Farms, America’s largest open-field tomato grower, has ensured that students in Immokalee start the school year with a brand-new backpack, school supplies and a confident attitude. Due to COVID-19, the Backpack Giveaway will look a lot different this year. Their Back to School event, where backpacks are distributed, has been cancelled, but Lipman still plans on making sure local students get the essential school supplies they need.

“We realized early on that because of the burdens that COVID has put on families recently that this could be the most important year yet for us to make sure students had the supplies they need for school,” Jaime Weisinger, director of community and government relations at Lipman, said. “We really wanted to make sure our 10th year of giving was extra special, but I think supporting families right now is our priority.”

Lipman has been working with local schools and their staff on plans to distribute supplies directly to the schools, giving school leaders the ability to make sure those students who need help the most will still get it. Lipman was looking forward to celebrating with the community of Immokalee on 10 years of distributing backpacks, but coronavirus forced them to alter their plans.

Lipman’s Annual 5K Run for Backpacks was also impacted. This event helped raise donations for the backpack giveaway, but fundraising was cut short as the coronavirus forced most events online. The event went virtual, which affected the sponsorships of the 5K, but the company was committed to making it happen.

Not only was the event an opportunity to give back to the community, but it served to inform. The event hosted over 30 service providers like Harry Chapin Food Bank and Healthy Smiles. The exhibitors from the event are now donating supplies to put in the backpacks, with information such as financial advising, educational support and health services available.

“Modifying our distributions has become our new normal and Harry Chapin Food Bank is thrilled that we have found a way to ensure that students in Immokalee are ready for school and fed,” Richard LeBer, president and CEO, said. “We’re excited to be able to partner with Lipman Family Farms once again to make sure students get basic food supplies at the beginning of the school year. We will be distributing 480 of our Harry’s Helpings food kits along with Lipman’s backpacks directly to the students and families that need it most.”

At last year’s Back-to-School event, Lipman distributed more than 1,500 backpacks filled with essential school supplies, 200 bikes and helmets, clothing store gift cards, back-to-school haircuts and much more.

For more information about the backpack distribution or to make a donation, email jaime.weisinger@lipmanfamilyfarms.com or call Lipman Family Farms at 239-657-4421.