CASSOPOLIS — A line of students accompanied by their parents patiently waited outside of Brookside Learning Center on Saturday morning to receive a free backpack filled with school supplies.

United Way of Southwest Michigan hosted its annual School Supply Spectacular over the weekend, providing more than 800 students with age-appropriate school supplies.

Placed inside 10 of the backpacks was a golden ticket, awarding the lucky child that received one with a $75 gift card for back-to-school clothing, a free haircut, a dental care kit, and two big boxes of after-school snacks.

Morgan Jewell, of United Way, had been planning the event for the past four months and was excited to see the event make a difference in families’ lives.

“It’s great to see everyone’s faces light up when they get their backpack,” Jewell said.

William Peters, 9, of Dowagiac won a golden ticket within the first half hour of the event. As he held the ticket tightly with both hands, he said he was not sure what he planned to spend his $75 gift card on.

“Maybe a second haircut,” he said.

Feeding America of West Michigan Mobile Food Pantry was also in attendance at Brookside on Saturday providing families with food.

On Wednesday, United Way will be handing out 200 backpacks out at Marcellus United Methodist Church, 197 West Main St., Marcellus.