Help Fill a Backpack — and a Child’s Future

At Kids to Love, we believe every child deserves to start the school year feeling prepared, supported, and seen. That’s the heart behind our More Than a Backpack program — a powerful effort to provide school supplies to children living in foster care.

This year alone, we will deliver backpacks to nearly 6,000 children across Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Each one will be filled with everything they need to walk confidently into the classroom on the first day of school — and know they’re not forgotten.

More Than a Backpack, More Than You Know

Every summer, the Kids to Love team assembles thousands of backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. For children in foster care, these aren’t just tools for learning — they’re a lifeline. They help restore a sense of normalcy and dignity in what can often be a chaotic and uncertain time.

Imagine showing up to school without a backpack, pencils, or notebooks — or worse, carrying your belongings in a plastic grocery bag. More Than a Backpack ensures that doesn’t happen. It helps children feel equal to their peers and equipped to succeed.

You Can Make the Difference

This program only works because of people like you — individuals, families, churches, businesses, and civic groups who step up to meet this critical need. Here’s how you can help:

🛍️ Shop and Donate Supplies

We update our school supply list each year with what students need most — from crayons and notebooks to binders and calculators. You can collect and drop off items, or shop online and ship directly to us.

💵 Make a Monetary Donation

Your gift ensures a child receives exactly what they need to start strong.

🙌 Volunteer to Pack

We welcome groups and individuals to join us in our warehouse as we sort, pack, and prepare backpacks for distribution. It’s hands-on, meaningful, and a great way to give back as a team or family.

📦 Host a Supply Drive

Many businesses, schools, and churches host their own drives each summer, rallying their communities to collect supplies. We’ll provide everything you need to make it a success.

Real Impact, Right Here at Home

Since its launch in 2005, More Than a Backpack has equipped over 275,000 children for success — and the need continues to grow. This year, we’re serving thousands of children across three states, ensuring no child in foster care starts school at a disadvantage.

When you give to this program, you’re not just checking items off a list — you’re making a statement that foster children matter, their education matters, and their future matters.

Be Part of Something Bigger Than a Backpack

Visit kidstolove.org/more-than-a-backpack to learn more, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation today.

Together, we can do more than meet a need — we can send a message of hope, one backpack at a time.