July 29, 2026: As families across the country prepare for a new school year, thousands of neighbors are making sure children head back to class with more than bright futures ahead. They’re making sure they have the pencils, notebooks, backpacks, and other essentials they need to succeed.
From Oklahoma to Louisiana to Indiana and beyond, churches, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers are teaming up to collect and distribute school supplies to families who need a helping hand.
In Oklahoma, Project School Supplies is celebrating its 25th year. Organized by TTCU Federal Credit Union in partnership with Restore Hope and other community organizations, the annual drive collects new school supplies and financial donations that are distributed to students across the state. Since it began, the program has helped generations of children start the school year with confidence, proving how a community’s generosity can make a lasting difference.
In the New Orleans area, organizations are hosting dozens of free back-to-school giveaways, providing backpacks, notebooks, and other classroom essentials to help families prepare for the first day of school. Similar efforts are taking place in communities large and small across the country.
In northwest Indiana, Purdue University Northwest will once again host its “Roaring Back to School” events, where K-12 students can receive free school supplies while families connect with community organizations offering additional support. Organizers say the goal is simple: help ensure every child has the resources needed to learn, grow, and thrive.
The good news is that these programs aren’t limited to a handful of cities. Every summer, local businesses, credit unions, schools, libraries, faith communities, and nonprofits organize backpack drives and school-supply giveaways in communities across America.
If you’d like to help, a quick Google search for terms like school supply drive, back-to-school giveaway, or backpack program along with your city or county will likely point you to opportunities nearby. Your local television stations, newspapers, school districts, and community organizations are also excellent places to look for donation drives and distribution events.
And if your family could use a little assistance this school year, don’t hesitate to search those same resources. Many programs are specifically designed to ensure every child begins the school year equipped for success, regardless of a family’s financial situation.
The Bright Side
Sometimes changing a child’s future starts with something as simple as a backpack full of pencils and paper. When communities come together to make sure every student begins the school year prepared, they’re not just supplying classrooms—they’re sending children the powerful message that they are valued, supported, and worth investing in.
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If you enjoyed this article, you should read about a Minneapolis cafe that has adopted payment by donation only.
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