Mason Garcia, 5, places free map pencils inside a bag his mother, Corina Garcia, is carrying at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Mason Garcia, 5, places free map pencils inside a bag his mother, Corina Garcia, is carrying at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People walk into the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People walk into the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People wait in line to get free school supplies from vendors at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People wait in line to get free school supplies from vendors at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free backpacks were given out at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free backpacks were given out at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free composition notebooks were given out at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free composition notebooks were given out at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free pencil pouches were given out at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free pencil pouches were given out at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People spin a wheel to win a coupon to Chick-fil-A at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People spin a wheel to win a coupon to Chick-fil-A at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Bags full of free school supplies are displayed at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Bags full of free school supplies are displayed at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Abram James, 8, thanks a vendor for free folders at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Abram James, 8, thanks a vendor for free folders at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People wait in line to get free school supplies from vendors at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
People wait in line to get free school supplies from vendors at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free school supplies are displayed at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)
Free school supplies are displayed at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2026. (John Oliva/Caller-Times)

Stress balls, composition notebooks, backpacks, rulers and Pokémon cards were just some of the free items given out to attendees at the Corpus Christi Police Department's annual Operation Safe Return on Aug. 1.

Thousands of people journeyed inside the Hilliard Center to receive free school supplies, free sports physicals, safety information and more from more than 140 businesses and local nonprofits.

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The annual event's goal is to ensure every student has the opportunity to receive necessary school supplies for the upcoming school year.

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Students receive free school supplies at Operation Safe Return