The Fill A Backpack program provides children in need with a sense of normalcy. No child should have to go to class feeling embarrassed to have to ask their teacher to borrow a pencil or piece of paper. With more than 40% of Colorado students qualified for Free and Reduced Lunch in 2019 and 65% coming to the first day of school unprepared, it is no surprise that many struggling families simply cannot afford the growing annual expense of school supplies for their children.

That is where our incredible team of Fill A Backpack supporters step in! Each year, we provide tens of thousands of Colorado kids with backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies, giving them hope and excitement so they can start the school year feeling confident and prepared.

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 and Community Challenges.

In 2016, we began inviting corporations, chambers and local community groups to meet the challenge of filling the backpacks of Colorado kids.  Each year since, this challenge has rallied the community around the common goal of ensuring the underserved children and youths in our community begin each school year with the tools they need to excel academically.

2020 Challenge Winners

Corporate Challenge Winner: DaVita
Community Challenge Winner: Trinity United Methodist Church