Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty has kicked off its 17^th Annual Backpack Challenge.

The Northeast Florida real estate firm is collecting backpacks and school supplies for local children at all area Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty offices through Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.

Last year during the Backpack Challenge, the company collected a record 733 backpacks filled with school supplies for local children.

“Every child deserves to begin the school year with a new backpack and the supplies needed for school,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer. “A new backpack filled with school supplies is a wonderful gift, providing the tools every student needs to begin a successful school year.”

Backpacks and supplies may be dropped off at the following Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices office locations:

• Home Office – 4190 Belfort Road, Suite 475, Jacksonville
• Avondale/Ortega/San Marco – 3627 St. Johns Ave., Jacksonville
• Beaches/Intracoastal West/Southside – 375-1 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach
• Fleming Island/Orange Park – 3535 Highway 17, Suite 10, Fleming Island
• Mandarin/St. Johns – 11576 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville
• Ponte Vedra/Nocatee – 333 Village Main St., Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach
• St. Augustine – 112 Sea Grove Main St., Suite 210, St. Augustine Beach

The company is collecting backpacks for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Suggested school supply items include No. 2 pencils and pencil sharpener, three-ring binders, erasers, glue sticks, rulers, pencil bag or pencil box, folders, wide-ruled paper, notebook, crayons, pens, construction paper, dividers, composition notebooks, colored pencils, tissues, blunt scissors, college-ruled paper, highlighters, calculator, USB flash drive, and graph paper.

The 17^th Annual Backpack Challenge will benefit Dreams Come True, The Bridge of Northeast Florida, Community Connections of Jacksonville, Operation New Hope and Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM).

“Words cannot express how much we appreciate the numerous donations and generous support we’ve received from our team members and community during the Backpack Challenge,” said Broker/Executive Vice President Christy Budnick. “We know that beginning the school year with a new backpack filled with supplies makes a difference in the lives of children living in our communities, and this effort helps us accomplish that goal.”

For more information, visit www.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.