2026 Backpack Drive Equips 1,000 Students for Success
This summer, the Identity community stepped up once again to ensure local students started the school year with the tools needed to succeed. Through generous financial contributions and donations of backpacks and school supplies, our 6th Annual Backpack Drive provided over 1,000 backpacks to young people in need across Montgomery County—a record number (and 300 more than last year’s drive.)
In August, more than 50 volunteers packed backpacks tailored for elementary, middle and high school students as well as older youth in GED programs. Volunteers also took the time to write personal notes of encouragement, which were included in every backpack. These messages wished students luck in the coming school year and reminded them that, no matter how hard things get, their neighbors are cheering them on and believe in their success.
Backpacks were passed out to students at their home schools and distributed at a community event outside Identity's headquarters that included pizza, snacks, games and, thanks to support from Neighbors Rising, free books for children.
This annual effort directly advances Identity's mission of helping young people thrive. While back-to-school shopping should be an exciting milestone, rising costs make it almost impossible for many families. By providing free backpacks and school supplies, our community helped remove barriers to learning and demonstrated the power of coming together to support one another as neighbors.
We are truly grateful to every volunteer and donor who made this effort possible. While we have worked to thank everyone personally, some Amazon donations arrived without contact information. If we missed you, please accept our sincere thanks and let us know. Your generosity made a real difference.
And a very special thank you to our Backpack Drive sponsors, including Oro Sponsors: Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation, Stein Sperling and the Identity Board of Directors, and Amigo Sponsors: Jewish Community Relations Council, Leder Family Foundation, Malloy Law Offices and Wealthspire Advisors. You embraced our audacious goal of distributing 1,000 backpacks and inspired many others to participate generously.
