Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, along with officials from the Buffalo Police Athletic League, are celebrating local students who took part in this summer's Camp Champs. 

The free six-week program allowed kids in kindergarten and all the way up to the 12th grade to go on field trips, play sports and learn about the arts, literacy and STEM programming. 

"We are very happy and we hope the kids are happy with these as well, even though they are going back to school," Lauren Kelly, director of government affairs, Charter Communications, said. "Investing in our communities future has always been at the forefront of what we do and seeing these childs faces as they explore new places and explore new things just reminds us why this work is so important."

"We know a it could cost family upwards of $200 per child for school supplies, so these bags are filled with over $150 worth of supplies that will help to alleviate that pressure for families, especially if they have multiple children," Nekia Kemp, executive director, Buffalo Police Athletic League, added.

The free backpacks distributed Thursday are courtesy of Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 1.