On Friday, Dec. 5, students in more than 100 classrooms in 13 Denver elementary schools will find 3,000 colorful backpacks filled with toys and books waiting for them. The second annual “Visit from Saint Nicholas” arrives thanks to 200 Denver-area residents who are part of Metro Volunteers.

At 9:30 a.m., Mayor John Hickenlooper will stop in at Valdez Elementary School (2525 W. 29th Ave.) to visit with students and help celebrate “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”

Other schools receiving backpacks are: Cheltenham, 1580 Julian St.; Columbine, 2540 E. 29th Ave.; Del Pueblo, 750 Galapago St.; Eagleton, 880 Hooker St.; Fairview, 2715 W. 11th Ave.; Greenlee, 1150 Lipan St.; Harrington, 2401 E. 37th Ave.; Remington, 4735 Pecos St.; Stedman, 2940 Dexter St.; Swansea, 4650 Columbine St.; Wyman, 1690 Williams St.; and Whiteman, 451 Newport St.

Metro Volunteers was established in 1994 to strengthen the six-county metro Denver community by building the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations and connecting people with volunteer opportunities. Metro Volunteers is a partner agency of the Points of Light Foundation. For more information, call 303-561-2300 or visit the Metro Volunteers website at www.metrovolunteers.org.

For more information, contact Malea Melis at 303-672-4341.