HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Volunteers for United Way of Central Shenandoah Valley sorted supplies and stuffed backpacks yesterday, August 6, 2026, for their 4th annual Tools for School event, which takes place this Saturday, August 8, 2026, in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Director of Development Jim Sacco said that prices for school supplies are rising and that families want to make sure their children have the tools ready to go to school with, but it’s another expense.

“‘What am I sacrificing to make sure that my children start the school year like everybody else starts the school year?’ And for us, that’s important to wipe away that stigma, to make sure that every student who’s waiting for the bus on the first day of school in Harrisburg City and Rockingham County, they all have a backpack on their back,” said Sacco.

Sacco continued by saying all the supplies in those backpacks because of the people and businesses in the community.