A Precious Child collects donated new backpacks and school supplies for children in the most need in the community. Backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies are distributed to children through our Resource Center as well as our agency partners which include schools, human services organizations, at-risk youth centers, homeless shelters and foster care organizations.

We collect new backpacks, school supplies and monetary donations through drives hosted by individuals, organizations and businesses as well as through the Fill A Backpack Corporate, Chamber and Community Challenges.

The Fill A Backpack program ensures underprivileged children get to start the first day of school feeling confident and prepared to succeed academically.

Children living in poverty face many challenges and tremendous stigmatization. Showing up on the first day of school without the proper tools can make a child look and feel different from their classmates which can be both embarrassing and stressful.

Each year, the school supply lists grows and families in need struggle to find a way to ensure their children have the necessary supplies required by the school.

In 2016, 42% of all Colorado students, 358,899 children, qualified for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program (Colorado Kids Count). With the average parent spending $107.76 on each child for school supplies every year (National Retail Federation), it is no surprise that families living in poverty simply cannot afford the expense of school supplies for their children.

By providing children in need with brand new backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies, A Precious Child ensures that children in need can show up to school ready to start the new school year on the same level as their peers and excited to learn.

Started in 2016, our annual Fill A Backpack Challenge brings together corporations, chambers and local community groups around the common goal of ensuring Colorado children in need go to school each year with the tools they need to excel academically.

2018 Challenge Winners

Corporate Challenge Winner: Enterprise Holdings
Corporate Challenge Points Per Employee Winner: Guardian Storage
Chamber Challenge Winner: Metro North Chamber of Commerce
Community Challenge Winner: Broomfield United Methodist Church