MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- School is almost back in session and Capuchin Community Services is helping students prepare to learn. 

Hundreds of Milwaukee- area children were given a chance to choose a new, fully stocked backpack from House of Peace Thursday, Aug. 20, filled with pens, pencils, notebooks, calculators and other classroom essentials.

The distribution has been going on for over a decade, but its mission has always remained the same. 

"We want to reach out to families in need who are struggling to make ends meet, so they don't have to decide whether or not to forgo some of the things that children will need as they begin a new school year," said Br. Zoy Garibay, ministry director.

There were more than 1,000 backpacks distributed throughout the event, which is more than double their number last year.