Backpack Initiative

ABOVE: West Palm Beach’s Washington Elementary students receive backpacks and supplies. LEFT: Teachers handing out backpacks at Crosspointe Elementary in Boynton Beach. RIGHT: Students pick out backpacks at Northmore Elementary in West Palm Beach.

Palm Beach County students will rule the school this fall thanks to the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County providing school supplies and backpacks to 25,000+ students.

The Foundation’s backpack initiative started in 2018 and includes a backpack and necessary school supplies for local students in need. The backpacks will be delivered to students before the 2024-2025 school year starts.

“When we started the backpack initiative six years ago, we handed out 2,500 bags,” says James Gavrilos, President & CEO of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. “This year, our goal is more than 25,000 – which would make our program the largest backpacking effort in South Florida.”

The backpack initiative is part of the Foundation’s signature program, Red Apple Supplies, a free resource store for teachers from the highest-need schools in Palm Beach County School District to stock their classrooms with school supplies.

Since opening in 2016, Red Apple Supplies has distributed over $7.5 million in school supplies to 91 schools, aiming to serve all 182 schools in the district. The program is vital to Palm Beach County as teachers spend about $800 annually out-of-pocket for supplies students can’t afford.

“We encourage the community to not only donate school supplies but also to volunteer at Red Apple Supplies,” says Teresa West, Chief Engagement Officer at the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. “Every child deserves a shot at success.”

For more information, please visit educationfoundationpbc.org/red-apple-supplies.

The backpack initiative is part of the Education Foundation’s signature program, Red Apple Supplies, a free resource store for teachers from high-need schools .

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