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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For over a decade, the Southern Iowa Economic Development Association, or SIEDA, has helped low-income families who struggle buying school supplies.

Each year, generous donations provide the basics on every kid's back to school list, including notebooks, folders, pencils, glue and more. The supplies are bagged by grade, and any family who qualifies by the federal guidelines, or who qualified for heat assistance, is able to come pick up a bag.

The bags don't include absolutely everything on every grade's list, but it goes a long way towards getting kids ready for back to school.

"Sometimes they get emotional when they come in," said Ramona Vaux, of SIEDA. "And that makes us get emotional."

This year, UnitedHealthcare's hawk-i program donated 980 pocket folders, and everything else was generously given by a woman living in New York who just wanted to help. That sentiment is replicated in SIEDA's volunteers, who put together the school supply bags and handed them out from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

"I come out because I think it's a great opportunity to help people," said Cathryn Vaux, Ramona's granddaughter. "I love helping people, I love volunteering and it makes it better when I can see the looks on the little kids' faces when they get their school supplies, they're like, 'thank you!' and it just brings joy to me and I love it."

Anyone who was not able to make it out for the school supply drive on Friday can still receive supplies before school starts by visiting the SIEDA office at 226 West Main Street in Ottumwa. Ramona also said they will continue giving away the supplies throughout the year if kids run out and need more. This year's supply is the best SIEDA has ever seen.

"As long as the supplies holds out, we'll keep giving it out," she said.