ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- In Rochester Saturday people were talking investments – no, not the stock market.

It’s a new event called “The Investment: Back to School Health, Wellness and Fitness Boost.” It aims to prepare Rochester students for the upcoming school year.

“They’re the future for us," event organizer Lee "Lucky" Davis of EazyWork Fitness said. "If they’re on point and they’re leading in the right direction, then we have nothing to worry about. I’m 34-years-old, I have three kids, but actually everybody’s my kid. I want to make sure all these children understand that we love them, we want to support them, and we want to see everybody successful.”

Dozens of community organizations participated. There was dancing, bouncing, sock-hopping, grocery shopping and stocking up on all the education essentials.

The Blessings in a Bookbag project held a raffle for a back-to-school swag bag.

“In education, in families, in communities we’re coming together because we’re building our future," said Melissa Rife, a Blessings in a Bookbag supporter and Urban Choice Charter School educator. "We want to make Rochester, the ROC, a better place to live, and this is one way we can do this.” 

People also lined up for free shoes. Seventh-grader Zaire Downs hopes the donated shoes he collected will give kids confidence at school.

“Some people just think it’s a pair of sneakers, but other people could think it’s really like their whole life, because they might get bullied, and they want to stop from getting bullied," Downs said. "So they come here and get some shoes.”

And one fellow seventh-grader who got free shoes is already inspired.

“I think I might want to donate some clothes to some people, because I have a lot of clothes at home," Ravay Gibson of Rochester said. "It would feel good to be able to do that.”