Members of St. Paul Lutheran Church want to make sure local students have the "Tools for School."

The church is hosting a

school supply giveaway for needy children in the county from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 101 S. Sixth St.

"They get a backpack and grade-specific items you would get from places like Wal-Mart for school," said Mike Poole, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

St. Paul Lutheran and volunteers from other congregations and organizations will hand out about 1,500 backpacks filled with pens, pencils, notebooks, tissues, crayons, highlighters, calculators and other school supplies.

A couple local schools were contacted for school supply lists for each grade level to get an idea of what is required for the school year.

Last August, the church had a clothing give away. During that event organizers found a greater need for school supplies.

"We realized there are other places in town that give out clothing so we were just continuing other people's efforts," Poole said. "We found people really wanted school supplies."

According to the Ohio Department of Education, half of the students in the Ironton, Rock Hill, Symmes Valley and Dawson Bryant school districts are disadvantaged.

"We really believe we are to give back to others," Poole said. "It's really giving back to the community."