Your generosity came to life through our 2025 Back to School Drive. Together with congregations and volunteers, you helped deliver 80 backpacks filled with supplies to children in foster care, 45 classroom boxes to Head Start and Early Head Start centers and 200 teacher care kits to support educators as they welcomed students back to school.
Among those who joined in was Upbring donor and volunteer Nicole Krauss, who rallied her Cypress Elementary PTA to participate. Parents even brought their children to help pack supplies, turning the drive into a family event. Nicole shared, “As a parent and volunteer, I love this annual Upbring tradition of packing school supplies with friends and family. It’s a meaningful way to support students and their success, and we’re grateful to be part of it.”
Congregations also played a vital role. St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church in Austin hosted a drive during Vacation Bible School, engaging both children and adults in service. “Part of our mission at St. Luke’s is to teach young people the importance of serving our neighbors through gifts of time, talent and treasure,” said the Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister. “Knowing their contributions would support other children made this an especially meaningful and inspiring project for our church. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Upbring in the years ahead.”
The impact of these drives was felt deeply by teachers who received appreciation kits. “It felt good to be appreciated and set a positive tone to begin the school year,” said Amelia Sanchez, Trinity Charter Schools – Refugio. Julieta Adams of Coastal Bend College added, “The supplies were exactly what we needed to get started. It showed appreciation for us, and sometimes it’s the small things that matter most.”
For others, the kits were a reminder that care extends beyond the classroom. “The kit reminded me to prioritize my own wellbeing. Mental health comes first, and caring for myself allows me to better care for my students,” reflected Alma Lara-Moreno, also of Coastal Bend College. And for Samantha Hernandez of Redeemer, the kit was a reminder that support shows up in everyday ways: “From the pen parents use to sign in their children to the sticky notes and highlighters I’ll use throughout the year, each item makes my job a little easier and shows that we are continually cared for.”
Every backpack placed in a child’s hands and every kit delivered to a teacher tells the same story: that they are seen, valued and supported.