As another school year begins, hundreds of children and youth served by EmberHope will head back to the classroom with the supplies they need to learn, grow, and succeed, all thanks to the incredible generosity of our community.
On Wednesday, July 29, volunteers gathered for EmberHope’s annual Back-to-School Backpack Packing Event, assembling nearly 850 backpacks for children and youth served through the agency’s foster care, kinship, and family support programs. The total more than doubled last year’s effort, making this the largest backpack drive in EmberHope’s history.
Each backpack was thoughtfully packed with age-appropriate school supplies tailored to elementary, middle, and high school students. From crayons, markers, notebooks, and folders to headphones, scientific calculators, and graphing paper, every backpack was designed to ensure students have the tools they need to begin the school year prepared and confident.
Throughout the summer, individuals, families, churches, businesses, and community organizations came together to make the drive a success. Support poured in through online monetary donations, purchases made through EmberHope’s Amazon Wishlist, and numerous school supply donations collected across the region.
“We are continually humbled by the kindness of this community,” said Virginia Lewis, Volunteer and Development Coordinator for the EmberHope Foundation. “Every backpack represents so much more than school supplies—it represents encouragement, hope, and a reminder to a child that there are people who believe in them and want them to succeed. Watching our volunteers come together to pack hundreds of backpacks was truly inspiring.”
This year’s drive was made possible through the support of churches, businesses, civic organizations, and community partners throughout Wichita, Newton, and beyond. EmberHope extends its heartfelt thanks to the following entities for collecting supplies, hosting donation drives, and helping make this year’s event possible:
| Thank You to Our 2026 Back to School Partners | |
|---|---|
| Aldersgate United Methodist Church | Newton Christian Church |
| Wichita First United Methodist Church | MinnTrust Mortgage |
| Asbury Church | TAAG Church |
| Haysville Christian Church | Project Teacher |
| Cross Road Church | DayOne Bags |
| Andover United Methodist Church | BNI Synergy for Success |
| Leon United Methodist Church | Newton Senior Center |
| St. Paul’s United Methodist Church | St. Mary’s Senior Group |
| Covenant Presbyterian Church | St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church |
| UnitedHealthcare Volunteers | Grace Community Church Volunteers |
| EmberHope Staff Volunteers | Newton Community Volunteers |
EmberHope also recognizes the many volunteers who generously gave their time during the backpack packing event, including teams from UnitedHealthcare, St. George’s Orthodox Church, Grace Community Church, our own staff, and numerous community members from Newton who came together to help prepare every backpack for distribution.
“The generosity we witnessed this year was truly extraordinary,” Lewis said. “Whether someone donated a box of crayons, purchased supplies through our Amazon Wishlist, made a financial gift, or spent an afternoon packing backpacks, every act of kindness mattered. Seeing our community unite around children and families in this way is a powerful reminder that when we work together, we can make a lasting difference.”
Backpacks are now being picked up by EmberHope caseworkers, who will personally deliver them to the children and youth they serve before the first day of school. For many students, a new backpack filled with fresh school supplies represents more than just the items inside—it provides confidence, reduces financial barriers, and helps them walk into the classroom ready to focus on learning.
Every backpack packed this year is a testament to what can happen when a community comes together with compassion and a shared commitment to helping children thrive. EmberHope is deeply grateful to every donor, volunteer, church, business, and community partner who helped make this year’s Back-to-School Drive such an incredible success.
Continue Making a Difference
The Back-to-School Drive is just one of the many ways our community supports children and families throughout the year. If you’d like to make an impact beyond the school season, we invite you to join us. Whether you volunteer at an upcoming event, lend your time to one of our programs, or make a secure online donation, your support helps create brighter futures for children and families served by EmberHope every day.
Ready to get involved? Visit our Volunteer page to explore upcoming opportunities or make a secure online gift to help us continue bringing hope, healing, and opportunity to children and families across Kansas.
