Backpacks for Success has returned for a fourth year.
United Way Hastings and Prince Edward is again helping local families with the cost of back-to-school supplies. The initiative is now in its fourth year, and in 2025 it supplied nearly 1,300 students across the area with backpacks and school supplies for the low cost of $12.
The organization’s Director of Community Impact said that while corporate sponsors are the primary source of support, community members also step up to help.
“We always get some lovely people who call our office who want to purchase backpacks for students who can’t afford them. Donations just opened on Monday, and we already had a call from a member of the community,” said Kaitlyn Lalonde.
She added the organization is well aware of the difficult financial times many families are facing today, and no one will be turned away if the cost is too much of a hardship.
“We always take that into account and plan for a growth in the number of backpacks needed, and we plan for many people calling in to say they can’t afford that $12, which is completely fair. We are able to subsidize with people donating.”
Anyone asking for assistance is not required to show proof of their financial need and those who have signed up will be alerted to when and where their pickup day is.
“We cover a large region and our distribution day for Bancroft is August 19 between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and you get our backpack,” said Lalonde.
Registration is open and runs until July 17, and can be found here, or you can call the United Way at 613-962-9631.
Anyone interested in hosting a School Supply Collection Drive to support the program can send an email to info@unitedwayhpe.ca.
