LAPLACE — It was more than 11 years ago when Eliza Eugene was first asked to take part in a back-to-school giveaway in neighboring St. Charles Parish.

Besides the gratification she felt at the event, Eugene said she was inspired by seeing a community come together for a common cause.

“It was such a beautiful thing,” Eugene said. “It just inspired me. I said, ‘We can do that right here in St. John Parish.’”

Over the years, Eugene’s vision has become a reality beyond her dreams.

More than a decade later, Eugene’s non-profit organization Blessed to Be a Blessing will host its largest back-to-school giveaway ever and provide St. John the Baptist Parish parents and children a one-stop shop for just about every back-to-school need.

The annual backpack giveaway for St. John Parish residents will be held from 8:30  to 11:30 a.m. July 22 at the St. John Community Center, 2900 Highway 51 in LaPlace.

In addition to 1,000 backpacks and personal hygiene kits, children will be offered free haircuts, health screenings, eye exams and dental screenings.

There also will be free food, games, entertainment and even a petting zoo.

Eugene said more than 30 vendors will be on site to provide services and information about services available to St. John Parish residents.

Participants must provide proof of residency with either a valid photo I.D. or utility bill from a St. John Parish address.

The event is being sponsored in part by Marathon Petroleum, the St. John United Way, St. John Parish government organizations, Valero, Entergy, Regions Bank, Louisiana Federal Credit Union, the River Region Chamber of Commerce, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Metro Service Group and Raising Cane’s.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the sponsors and everyone coming together,” Eugene said. “To see everyone coming together for the kids and putting everything else aside, it’s really all about the children.”

Over the years, various groups have joined Eugene’s efforts to provide school supplies and other items to the area’s children.

She started 11 years ago by delivering some 300 backpacks stuffed with supplies to students attending Vacation Bible Schools. That grew to 500, then to 700 and now 1,000.

“It has grown tremendously,” she said. “Look where we are. I never imagined it would get to 1,000.”

Eugene’s vision actually began when she was growing up in Reserve as the child of a single mother who struggled to provide for her family.

“I grew up with a working mother and we didn’t have a lot,” Eugene said. “All those organizations and programs that were there for us when I was growing up, I’ll never forget them. I appreciate everything they did for us. I wanted to give back. This just shows what a community can do when it comes together for something.”