At CEAP, we believe that building a stronger community means caring for the whole person. While many people know us as a food shelf or Meals on Wheels provider, our work extends far beyond providing food. Every day, we serve as part of the social safety net for our neighbors—offering support that helps individuals and families move toward greater stability, opportunity, and well-being.
That commitment is especially important when it comes to children.
Every child deserves to walk into their classroom on the first day of school feeling prepared, confident, and excited to learn. But for many families already stretching every dollar to cover housing, groceries, transportation, and other essentials, purchasing school supplies can be one more impossible expense.
That's where our community comes in.
Last year, thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, CEAP distributed more than 3,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to local students. Each backpack filled with notebooks, pencils, and folders does more than prepare a student for the year ahead—it also represents a community investing in a child's future. It means one less financial burden for parents and caregivers and one more reason for a student to begin the school year with confidence.
This year, we're working to meet—or even exceed—that goal. But we can't do it alone.
Our Back-to-School Drive is powered entirely by the generosity of neighbors, businesses, faith communities, civic organizations, and volunteers who believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. By hosting a school supply drive, making a financial contribution, donating new supplies, or volunteering your time, you can help ensure that thousands of local students have the tools they need to learn and thrive.
For CEAP, this work is about more than filling backpacks. It's about strengthening families and creating pathways to long-term success. When children have the supplies they need, parents can focus limited resources on other essentials like rent, utilities, or food. Students are better equipped to participate fully in class, build confidence, and begin the year on equal footing with their peers.
Supporting families doesn't stop with school supplies. Through our Turning Leaf Thrift Store, families can purchase quality clothing, shoes, coats, and other household essentials at deeply discounted prices. During our backpack distribution, many families also visit the thrift store to pick out back-to-school clothing for their children. A backpack full of supplies is important—but so is walking into school with clothes and shoes that fit, help a child feel confident, and allow them to focus on learning instead of worrying about what they're wearing. Donations of gently used children's clothing and shoes help make that possible, extending the impact of our community's generosity.
These are the moments that define what community looks like.
We know that no single organization can meet every need on its own. But together—with compassionate partners and generous supporters—we can ensure every child has the opportunity to start the school year ready to learn and ready to thrive.
As you prepare for the months ahead, we invite you to join us. Host a Back-to-School Supply Drive at your workplace, congregation, or community group. Donate new school supplies, contribute gently used children's clothing to the Turning Leaf Thrift Shop, volunteer your time, or make a financial gift. Every backpack filled, every outfit donated, and every dollar invested helps create brighter futures for children and families across our community.
Together, we can make sure the first day of school is filled with possibility—not worry.
Interested in hosting a drive? Reach out to Alexis Richards at alexis.richards@ceap.com for more information!
