The annual Fairfax County Firefighters Back To School drive reached new heights on Thursday, Aug. 28. This year more than 3,000 backpacks were collected and filled with supplies for returning students in Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria. The annual drive distributed the packs on Thursday morning at the Fire and Rescue Station 11, Penn Daw. Department personnel, the Progressive Firefighters of Fairfax County, Local 2068, Apple Federal Credit Union, Social Work Services-FCPS, and the Office of Private Public Partnerships had been collecting backpacks and school supplies for several weeks and distributed them to school children in Fairfax County and the Washington Metropolitan area. Donations and support came from area businesses including Nationwide Credit Corporation, Modern Tech Solutions, Inc., SENTEL Corporation, PROMAX Realtors of Springfield, Integrity Applications Incorporated Foundation, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, Medocracy Inc., Kids R First, Aluminum Cans for Burned Children, Centreville Moose Lodge #2168, and the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner. This year’s backpack total was an increase of 600 from last year.