Backpack Coalition
Skip to Content
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

two girls with backpacks in front of a school bus

Backpack Coalition

Main Content

In 2024, 8,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to local students!

Mail a Check 

United Way Pledge Processing, PO Box 88988, Milwaukee, WI 53288-8988
Payable to: United Way Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
Please add "Backpack Coalition Restricted Fund" to your check memo line.

 

 

Additional Ways to Support

Host a Supply Drive

Encourage your customers, clients, and/or employees to collect supplies at your office or business. We make it easy for you with a downloadable toolkit and collection bins.

High Priority Items: Crayons, 24 ct.; Folders, paper or plastic; Markers, 10-12 count, thin or broad tip; Composition notebooks, college or wide ruled; Spiral notebooks, college or wide ruled

Our timeline to host a supply drive is now closed. 

Sponsor a School

Sponsor a school (or grade level) through Backpack Coalition. Every student in the school will receive a backpack with grade-specific items sponsored and packed by you and your company!

Our timeline to sponsor a school is now closed. Click below to learn how you can get involved next year.

Learn more.

Purchase Supplies

Double Your Donation Promotion: For every backpack you donate, Fenrici Brands will ship an additional backpack on your behalf. United Way will also receive 5% back from your purchase. 

View our Amazon Wishlist to purchase items and directly ship them to United Way.

Our timeline to purchase supplies is now closed. 

Need a Backpack?

Backpack Coalition provides school supplies for students in:

  • Milwaukee Public School students attending one of our Milwaukee Community Partnership Schools, please contact your guidance counselor. For students attending other schools, please contact Karen Mason with Silver Spring Neighborhood Center at 414.463.7950 or Beth Contreras with Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers at 414.897.5630. Learn more here.
  • Waukesha County students attending Hadfield, Hawthorne, and Heyer Elementary schools and Waukesha South freshman, please contact your guidance counselor. Families who utilize the following agencies may sign up for supplies by June 14, 2024: Waukesha County Health & Human Services, Food Panty of Waukesha County, Mukwonago Food Pantry, Muskego Food Pantry, Oconomowoc Food Pantry, Pewaukee Food Pantry, and Waukesha Salvation Army. 
  • Germantown School District, please contact Stephanie Kaebisch, School Social Worker at 262.502.7121 or at skaebisch@gsdwi.org. 
  • Ozaukee County, please contact Melissa Parchim at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee County at melissap@bbbsoz.org to sign up by June 14, 2024.

For all other requests, please contact the free IMPACT 211 service (1.866.211.3380).

Thank You to our 2024 Supporters

Please wait while we gather your results.

Backpack Coalition Committee

Our committee collaborates to ensure backpacks and supplies are beneficial to the students and distributed equitably.

Aurora Health Care, Child & Family Centers of Excellence, Food Pantry of Waukesha County, Germantown School District, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO, Mukwonago Area School District, Mukwonago Food Pantry, Muskego Food Pantry, Oconomowoc Food Pantry, Pewaukee Food Pantry, School District of Waukesha, The Waukesha Salvation Army, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Waukesha County Health and Human Services, Waukesha County UW-Extension

Thank You to Our 2024 Supply Vendors

Double Your Donation Promotion: For every backpack you donate, Fenrici Brands will ship an additional backpack on your behalf. United Way will also receive 5% back from your purchase.

Please wait while we gather your results.
Please wait while we gather your results.

Questions? Contact Sydney Radandt at 414-837-3558 or email.