It was hard to tell whose smiles were bigger, those on the faces of thousands of Oconee
County school children or thosesported throughout the day by Joe and Kristina Crosby.

All of those smiles were the result of the Joe and Kristina Crosby Education Foundation’s back- pack give away on Saturday, July 26 in the parking lot of the Seneca Bi-Lo.

Backpacks filled with school supplies were the focus of a day filled with music, food, education and a sense of community.

About 3500 children in kindergarten through fifth grade received backpacks, according toElisabeth Newberry, Executive Director of JKCEF. The kids and their parents also received gifts from Bi-Lo, the opportunity built their own wooden race cars with staff from Lowe’s, information on healthy eating, free ice cream and fruit, safety tips, a look at a real fire truck and material to make key chains to customize their backpacks.

In addition to helping parents stretch their back-to-school budgets, the Crosby’s goal for the event was “to spark that conversation between parents and children and help everyone be excited about going back to school,” explained Kristina Crosby. “These children are our future. I know that tonight they will be talking about their backpacks with their parents and there will be bonding. Someday, when these children become our designers, artists and doctors, they’ll remember this day and getting a backpack. And they’ll want to give to others.”

“Happy kids” is what Coach Joe Crosby said he wanted at the end of the day. When the Crosbys founded the T-60 grill and Coach’s Low Country Brands in Seneca part of their vision for the company was to give back to the community and to the restaurant industry.

Children who weren’t able to pick up their backpacks at the big event will find them waiting at their schools, Newberry explained, noting that the program’s goal was to provide a backpack for every one of the nearly 5,000 elementary school children in Oconee County.

She said the foundation plans to distribute additional school supplies in January when many of the children will be running low on essentials.  Supplies for that distribution come from the foundation’s School Supply Drive at the Seneca Wal-Mart during tax-free weekend.

Students aren’t the only beneficiaries of the Crosby’s generosity. Oconee county elementary school teachers will have an opportunity to stock up on classroom supplies, courtesy of the Crosbys, at “Make a Difference Day” at the Seneca Staples Store on October 24.