Students in tornado-damaged Van getting free school supplies

(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)  Students in a tornado-damaged East Texas town are preparing to return to school with donated books and portable classrooms.
 
Some businesses are coming to the education rescue of children in Van, about 70 miles southeast of Dallas.
 
Two people were killed and more than 40 hurt when a tornado slammed the Van Zandt County town on May 10. The twister heavily damaged Van's elementary and intermediate schools, along with an administrative building.
 
Backpacks with school supplies are being donated by the Kids In Need Foundation. The items will presented during a back-to-school celebration Thursday night. Classes resume Aug. 24 in the Van Independent School District.
 
A Tyler publishing company, Mentoring Minds, last week donated more than 1,000 reading and math books to the Van ISD.