TOYS From LO & LO's Arcade MANIA owner to host 'Backpack Giveaway Event'

Article and Photo by Benjamin Joe

Joshua Lopez, owner of TOYS From LO & LO’s Arcade MANIA, is throwing a community happening called the “Backpack Giveaway Event” between noon and 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. This is one of seven events he has planned for this year, and features free backpacks filled with school supplies for children going back to learn their writing and arithmetic.

“I’ve got small businesses set up. Food trucks. A live DJ. We’ve got giveaways and prizes besides the backpacks,” Lopez said. “The backpacks are what the event is for. The free backpacks filled with school supplies will be passed off between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.”

Lopez also said each vendor has donated a minimum of 12 backpacks, and some have donated 24 backpacks. Those donations bring the grand total to 290 backpacks.

The “Backpack Giveaway Event” still needs donations. Lopez is asking for graphing calculators or funds to buy graphing calculators.

“I do need those really bad, so if there’s anyone out there who would like to donate … I am looking for backpack supplies and graphing calculators,” he said.

Lopez recently held a grand opening for his business, at 600 56^th St., Niagara Falls.

He said he was a little taken aback by the amount of support offered from local businesses, and the city itself.

While Lopez has a history of throwing events to support the community in Lockport – the former location for his store and arcade – he wasn’t entirely sure how that would translate in a new spot.

Along with his landlord, who is also donating to the “Backpack Giveaway Event,” Lopez said many firefighters from the Niagara Falls Fire Department and police officers from the Niagara Falls Police Department visited his grand opening.

“The love and appreciation out here has been … it’s a lot,” he said, momentarily at a loss for words.

Other community events Lopez is planning for the year include “Santa LO,” where Lopez dresses up as Santa; as well as an event to “Help the Homeless”; and another to “Save the Youth” later this year.

Lopez said it’s important to give back, and he is excited to start here with the “Backpack Giveaway Event.”

“We got vendors selling their products, food trucks making their food. It’s just … a fun way to start (school) for the kids,” Lopez said.