LEHIGH ACRES FGCU softball team helps Habitat for Humanity build three homes The Florida Gulf Coast University softball team helped Habitat for Humanity build three homes Saturday.
ESTERO Home Base Golf Tournament helps SWFL Veterans Veterans hit the green at the Copperleaf Golf Course on Saturday. This was part of the Home Base golf tournament.
FORT MYERS At least one person dead after propane truck collides with golf cart Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that has left one person dead and another injured Saturday morning.
Scattered storms ahead for your Saturday plans The Weather Authority is tracking weekend temperatures in the low to mid-90s this weekend with a chance for scattered storms this afternoon.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 3 Thunderstorms tried to put a stop to week three of high school football on Friday Night, but gridiron action prevailed.
Man accused of plotting murder-for-hire denied bond A man suspected of being involved with a murder-for-hire plot will stay behind bars. Ryan Toranzo had his renewed motion to set bond denied today in Collier County Court.
LABELLE Two dead after crash on State Road 80 According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there was a crash on State Road 80 that has left at least one person dead Friday evening.
DeSoto County looks to recruit more teachers While it can sometimes be easy to fill a classroom with students, it is not so easy for teachers. Schools across the nation and locally in Southwest Florida are still dealing with the challenges of teacher shortages. With class back in session, so is teacher recruiting for DeSoto County schools. The assistant superintendent, Jake Reynolds, […]
IMMOKALEE ROAD Push for change after deadly crash on Immokalee Rd. We’re told the woman was driving with two kids in the car when a semi ran a red light and hit her Thursday morning.
FORT MYERS BEACH Mobi-Mats deployed on Fort Myers Beach A walkway to paradise! Brand new and blue, the Mobi-Mat is making things easier for Fort Myers Beachgoers.
NAPLES Women of Steel business conference inspiring and empowering women Focused, hardworking, empowered. These women have made a name for themselves as Women of Steel.
NAPLES Beloved Collier County bus driver retires after 20 years After 20 years of getting kids to school safely, a beloved Collier County bus driver is retiring.
Wade Wilson has new death row mugshot Convicted double-killer Wade Wilson has a new death row mugshot.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Sizzle Dining is back in SWFL It’s Sizzle Season! Local restaurants are ready to welcome new faces by offering exclusive menu deals to attract new customers.
LEHIGH ACRES FGCU softball team helps Habitat for Humanity build three homes The Florida Gulf Coast University softball team helped Habitat for Humanity build three homes Saturday.
ESTERO Home Base Golf Tournament helps SWFL Veterans Veterans hit the green at the Copperleaf Golf Course on Saturday. This was part of the Home Base golf tournament.
FORT MYERS At least one person dead after propane truck collides with golf cart Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that has left one person dead and another injured Saturday morning.
Scattered storms ahead for your Saturday plans The Weather Authority is tracking weekend temperatures in the low to mid-90s this weekend with a chance for scattered storms this afternoon.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 3 Thunderstorms tried to put a stop to week three of high school football on Friday Night, but gridiron action prevailed.
Man accused of plotting murder-for-hire denied bond A man suspected of being involved with a murder-for-hire plot will stay behind bars. Ryan Toranzo had his renewed motion to set bond denied today in Collier County Court.
LABELLE Two dead after crash on State Road 80 According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there was a crash on State Road 80 that has left at least one person dead Friday evening.
DeSoto County looks to recruit more teachers While it can sometimes be easy to fill a classroom with students, it is not so easy for teachers. Schools across the nation and locally in Southwest Florida are still dealing with the challenges of teacher shortages. With class back in session, so is teacher recruiting for DeSoto County schools. The assistant superintendent, Jake Reynolds, […]
IMMOKALEE ROAD Push for change after deadly crash on Immokalee Rd. We’re told the woman was driving with two kids in the car when a semi ran a red light and hit her Thursday morning.
FORT MYERS BEACH Mobi-Mats deployed on Fort Myers Beach A walkway to paradise! Brand new and blue, the Mobi-Mat is making things easier for Fort Myers Beachgoers.
NAPLES Women of Steel business conference inspiring and empowering women Focused, hardworking, empowered. These women have made a name for themselves as Women of Steel.
NAPLES Beloved Collier County bus driver retires after 20 years After 20 years of getting kids to school safely, a beloved Collier County bus driver is retiring.
Wade Wilson has new death row mugshot Convicted double-killer Wade Wilson has a new death row mugshot.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Sizzle Dining is back in SWFL It’s Sizzle Season! Local restaurants are ready to welcome new faces by offering exclusive menu deals to attract new customers.
The Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida hosted its annual Big Backpack Event in Fort Myers, marking 25 years of giving back to the community. Sunday marks the 25th anniversary of the event, and it took place at the Fort Myers Skatium starting and 10 a.m. and lasted until early Sunday afternoon. With less than a month left until school starts, it’s time to start preparing, and purchasing school supplies every year can be a burden for a lot of parents. Every year for the event there is a line of cars, signifying a need within our community. Every car represents a family with children about to start school soon, who may need that extra helping hand to afford their school supplies. Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida’s Big Backpack Event WINK News reporter Camila Pereira shows us how this event comes just in time to get families ready for the new school year, at no cost. One local nonprofit is making sure families don’t have to pay for everything on their own. “You see the turnout…Thousands and thousands of people, but it also shows the need in our community,” said Cecil Pendergrass, the Lee County Commissioner for District 2. For 25 years the Center has been providing for that need, giving away nearly 50,000 backpacks in that time. And it’s not just backpacks, notebooks, pens, and pencils, but also nonperishable foods to keep every family fed during the school year thanks to Midwest Food Bank and Community Cooperative. Mariah, a mother who attended the event said, “Things are a little tight right now. So, it’s nice to have a little bit of help…We were going to go shopping but then Walmart had a few things that he didn’t even need but they were too pricey. So now I think we’ll be okay.” During the event, the first 2,000 children, ages five to twelve and must be with their parent or guardian, will receive those backpacks. Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida’s Big Backpack Event The best part for these kids is getting to choose their backpacks for the year. Leonardo Garcia, the founder of the Big Backpack Event had this to say, “They say blue, red, yellow, green. And then the volunteers, right away…You can see the smile when you see the children. And you see, that’s what really makes my heart break.” Knowing it’s helped so many families for 25 years now all to get kids energized and ready to get back to school makes it all worthwhile for Garcia. “Very honored and happy to see 50,000 children. Students have benefited from these programs in school supplies, backpacks, and food in 25 years,” said Garcia. The event wrapped up early Sunday afternoon. RELATED: Save money with the back-to-school sales tax holiday If you missed out on this event, don’t worry! There’s another way for you to get your kids ready for back to school without breaking the bank. Monday is the start of the two-week-long back-to-school sales tax holiday, for more information, click here.