The Great Backpack Give Back collects over $17,000 in Donations for Back to School

Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) partnered with WHIO TV and WHIO Radio for the 3rd annual Great Backpack Give Back supply drive event. On August 6th, staff and volunteers gathered at three Walmart locations throughout the Miami Valley from 12-7pm to collect core school supplies such as backpacks, writing utensils, notebooks, and glue sticks for students in need. Individuals in the community generously donated what they could. Some bought the entire bin of notebooks and crayons directly off of the shelves and others handed staff and volunteers a single pack of colored pencils or pens.

This one-day supply drive event collected over $15,800 in core school supplies and $1,251.06 in financial donations, surpassing last year’s total by over $4,500. A recent Kids in Need Foundation (KINF) survey revealed that 100% of Miami Valley teachers spent their own money on items for school, classroom, or student use last school year.

The survey also reveals that 62% of students in C2C’s service area will arrive without the supplies they need on the first day of class. The message being shared with the community is that every donation, big or small, makes a difference in a student’s life this back-to-school season. C2C can turn a $1 donation into $5 in supplies, with the help of local and national partners. One dollar, one pencil, one notebook, or one backpack gives a student the opportunity to participate in classroom activities and makes a positive impact on their education.

C2C wants to thank groups from CareSource and McGohan Brabender for volunteering their time and Morris Home and Ashley for sponsoring the event. You can still support C2C’s mission this back-to-school season by donating school supplies, making a one-time financial donation, or becoming a Backpack Booster by giving monthly for teachers and students at under-resourced schools.