Students at San Bernardino’s Parkside Elementary School receive surprise donation of backpacks

Students at San Bernardino's Parkside Elementary School received a surprise early in the school year when Toyota of San Bernardino gave every Parkside student a new backpack filled with school supplies.

Representatives of the Toyota dealership came to the school Aug. 27 to present the backpacks.

"Our students are so excited to receive these backpacks and supplies. This generous donation will make a tremendous difference in their lives, giving them the confidence and resources they need to excel in their studies," Khaleelah Lewis-Wilkins, principal of Parkside Elementary School, said in a news release.

"By providing students with the tools they need to thrive, we are helping to set the stage for a successful school year for every child at Parkside Elementary," Eli Rivera, general manager of Toyota of San Bernardino, said in the news release. "I see myself in the faces of these students, and that's why I want them to succeed."

Parkside Elementary School, at 3775 N. Waterman Ave., has nearly 500 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.