Backpack Coalition

Backpack Coalition has been serving our community for over 20 years and has been led by United Way since 2014. It is committed to providing backpacks and school supplies to students with financial constraints and helping ensure they succeed in school. Each year the coalition distributes thousands of backpacks with grade appropriate school supplies to students in grades K-12.  

Thank you to our community for their past support of the Backpack Coalition. In 2022, we distributed 7,661 brand new backpacks filled with school supplies to children across our community, from students in Milwaukee Community Schools to those living and learning in Waukesha and Washington Counties. 

Here are just a few of the ways each donation altogether made a difference: 

• We ensured a child started the school year with the supplies they needed to succeed. With the right school supplies, a child's capacity to learn can be greatly enhanced. 
• We helped a child feel proud to have their own school supplies. The average cost of school supplies hovers around $75 and not every family can afford this cost. 
• We reduced the amount of money teachers spend from their own pockets to provide school supplies for their students. 
• We helped families redirect their limited budgets to other important needs: rent, food, bills, school clothes, and more. 

As the 2023-24 school year approaches, we are proud to once again ensure thousands of local students start the year off right. With rising costs and more students to serve the need is greater than it has ever been.  We hope you'll join us this year in supporting the Backpack Coalition.   

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