Free backpacks, school uniform vouchers and pig lungs were just a few of the surprises awaiting Port Arthur students at the Third Annual Back to School Youth Empowerment event.

Held at Shilo Baptist Church, students and their parents gathered Saturday morning to hear inspirational words of wisdom and get the facts on some of the leading causes of problems in urban communities.

Precinct 8 Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam, who organized the event, said it is his goal to help the children of Port Arthur and see fewer of them in his courtroom.

“We’re trying to address and tackle the problems in our state and in our area,” Gillam said. “Last year $319 million was spent on truancy in Texas and that’s a burden on the state. Here we’re building self esteem and character by educating children and their parents.”

Gillam said attendance records in PAISD are up from recent years, but he will not stop his quest to better the children of the area until the attendance rate is 100 percent.

“I’m really just glad to be able to facilitate this,” he said. “It gets bigger every year.”

Val Tizeno, assistant city attorney for Port Arthur, who played a big part in planning and executing the youth empowerment event, said she was very impressed with the turnout Saturday morning. Even as the pews in the church filled, people continued to file into the church for the event.

The event, backed by Gillam and the City of Port Arthur Community Prosecution Program, is designed to help offset the costs of buying back to school supplies and clothes. The first 300 children to arrive received school supplies, lunch and giveaways — several children leaving with backpacks and school uniform vouchers.

Sam Houston student, Chasity Sherman was shy about winning her Academy voucher for a school uniform, but said she was excited to go to school. The 6-year-old said her favorite part of the event, though, was seeing the friendly face of Eddie Eagle who showed up to tell the children about the dangers of guns and other weapons.

Christe Smith, the health educator for the city’s Health Department, was a hit as well with her visual aids to show the effects tobacco has on lungs. Displaying actual pig lungs, a healthy and cancerous pair, the children oohed and ahhed over the stomach turning presentation.

“People are always calling me asking me to come do my pig lung show,” she said. “And it helps because kids go home afterwards and nag their parents to stop smoking because of what they’ve learned.”

Texas Workforce Commission’s youth program, Power Zone, was on hand as well to discuss with children ways the center can help with tutorials, job training and college prep. The city also provided immunizations to students as well.

Tizeno said if residents were unable to make it to the empowerment event, but would still like assistance in preparing their children for back to school, call 983-8127.