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Serina and Isaiah Watts couldn't help but smile at all their new school supplies.
"I like Spider-Man 'cause I watch him on TV a lot," said Isaiah, 4, as he held stickers and a pencil featuring the comic book superhero.
"There's a kitty on my backpack," said Serina, 6, while continuing to draw a house in her spiral notebook with her new crayons.
The Watts and another needy family received free school supplies on Saturday, thanks to a donation program sponsored by the county's Register of Wills office in Upper Marlboro. On Aug. 21, the office also donated school supplies to the family of slain Prince George's County Police Sgt. Richard Findley, who died in the line of duty in June.
Backpacks were filled with notebooks, folders, paper, glue sticks and more.
"I believe in helping kids. I want them to know that there is always someone that can help them," said Cereta Lee, Register of Wills.
Lee and her staff held a similar program last year. School supplies and uniforms were donated to four families selected from guardianship court cases.
"I feel that there are so many kids that need help," Lee said.
This year, families were selected differently.
Lee contacted the Watts family after she called Mattaponi Elementary School in Upper Marlboro. The principal, Janice Hay, told Lee about four children who were being raised by their aunt and uncle.
"If it wasn't for this program, we would be broke," said Aubrey Watts, the children's uncle.
He and his wife, Terri Wood, became legal guardians because his sister, the children's mother, has a substance abuse problem.
Serina and Isaiah have two older brothers, Dashawn, 10, and Stephon, 7.
"This is the first year that all of them are going to school. Last year we had to get their school supplies little by little," Wood said.
Michelle Ingram's family, who also received school supplies Saturday, was selected by a fellow church member.
"It was a blessing. We really needed the help because it's been a struggle financially," she said while sitting next to two pink backpacks stuffed with supplies.
Ingram, of Lanham, is the mother of two girls and a 21-year-old son. She said she recently separated from her husband and has to rely on one income to support her children.
Her two daughters, Abriana, 6, and Ayana, 5, will be attending Magnolia Elementary School in Lanham.
"God really answered my prayers," she said.
For the donation to Findley's family, Register of Wills staff members delivered two stuffed backpacks to the Beltsville Fire Department. Findley volunteered at the fire house for about 20 years.
"He was the first one we thought of to give to," said Kelly Del Rio, chief deputy at the Register of Wills office.
The school supplies will go to Findley's daughters, Nicole, 9, and Lauren, 6.
"I had seen what happened on the news, and I knew he had two small children. I thought, oh my gosh, they have to grow up without their dad and they're getting ready for school," said Robin Hynson, of the guardianship department at the Register of Wills office.
Organizers of the event said they hope to continue the program next year.
"It's a joy being able to help kids," said Lee.
Dashawn Watts said now that he has his own, he won't have to use his classmates' school supplies.
"I would be nervous to ask to use their pencils. It's bad because it's not right to ask for other people's stuff. They might not have it, and the teacher may ask me where is my stuff," he said.