First Call for Help
Backpacks for Kids 2026 is officially over! A big thank you to EVERYONE that helped make this event a huge success. Whether you donated supplies, money, or volunteered your time… you helped to make a big difference!
As of Tuesday, we have given out 580 backpacks filled with grade appropriate school supplies and hygiene items to students in Ellis County!
We will be delivering another 58 bags to schools within Ellis County for them to store for any late enrollments. If you are still in need of a backpack or supplies for your student, stop by our office this week and we can get you taken care of.
*Thank you to Joe Bob Outfitters for allowing us to store all our bags and supplies in your warehouse all year.
*Thank you to Hays Recreation Commission for hosting us at their location.
*Thank you to the Hays High School football team for helping us unload and set up for the event.
*Thank you to Domino's for donating lunch to all of our volunteers.
*Thank you Pepsi for donating drinks for our volunteers to enjoy while they were working.
*In addition to all our grantors and donors, we’d like to give a special shout out to the United Way of Ellis County for helping to fund the program each year and helping to spread the word.
*Thank you to ALL Ellis County churches that hosted collection sites and gathered supplies and backpacks for us.
*Some pretty cool people helped to get supplies ready for Backpacks for Kids! Nex-Tech/Nex-Tech Wireless and the Hays CYO held supply drives for us! We also had some great volunteers come in to help pack bags with supplies!
*Thank you to the following organizations that hosted a table at the event to share with students about what they offer: Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, Scouting America, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, K-State Extension - Cottonwood Extension District, Hays Public Library Bookmobile, and Early Childhood Connections.
*Thank you Delta Dental of Kansas for donating ALL of the smile kits that were included in everyone's hygiene kits and Heartland Community Foundation for granting us money to purchase all of our new hygiene tubs!
*Thank you to all of the businesses that allowed their employees to come and volunteer on company time!
*Thank you to EVERYONE! Without community support, this event would not be as great as it is! We are so blessed!
Thank you to the Heartland Community Foundation & the Ellis County Legacy Fund for the grant to support our Backpacks for Kids program! With this grant funding, we purchased 43 reusable, sealable totes to store our hygiene kits. These durable totes reduce our reliance on cardboard boxes, provide stronger long-term storage, improve organization, and make transporting supplies easier and more efficient. This investment supports the sustainability and effectiveness of our program. Thank you so much for supporting us and our mission!