MENDOTA, Calif. (KMPH) -
As school gets closer, a Mendota businessman wants to make sure kids in his community are classroom ready.
Since 2000, Ignacio Gutierrez has handed out hundreds of backpacks to school children in Mendota.
He also makes sure they're filled with pencils, notebooks, crayons and other school gear.
Members of the Mendota City Council helped pass out the school supplies Sunday afternoon.
"The people of Mendota appreciate what he's doing. If you have to buy three backpacks for the kids it's costly, so he's giving them out, and we appreciate it by the turnout today," said Mendota Mayor Robert Silva.
700 school children are now fully equipped for that first day of school.
