Good grades have to start somewhere and what better way than at Albany’s annual 'Back 2 School Bash.'

Saturday, students and parents took advantage of free school supplies at the Albany Boys and Girls Club.

This year, 300 backpacks, filled with everything from pencils and paper to calculators, were handed out.

"In Our Own Voices", a social action group which helps LGBT people of color, hosts the event each year.

Its director of operations, Phillip Burse, tells Spectrum News several families in the communtiy rely on the backpack drive to kick start the school year.

“The cost of school supplies are rising, so that’s why we’re here to fill some of that gap, may not give them everything for the entire year but give them to supplement and support what they’re doing," said Burse.