Celebrating a Quarter-Century of School Supply Distribution: Over 19,000 Backpacks Given Away and Still Counting in NKY
In a bid to support local students as they prepare for the upcoming school year, Northern Kentucky Harvest hosted its annual Backpacks Bonanza event on August 10 at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Covington. This year's event marked a new record, with over 1,250 backpacks distributed, bringing the total number of backpacks given out since 2001 to more than 19,000.
The event, which was the largest and longest-running school supply giveaway this side of the Ohio River, saw recipients from 15 school districts and 37 communities, including Covington, Grant, Pendleton, and Gallatin counties. The recipients ranged from preschool children to 12th graders, and the backpacks were given out through five partnering agencies in the week leading up to distribution day.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare Covington generously allowed the use of its campus for the event, while Be Concerned provided warehouse space, trucks, communications help, and tables and canopies. The event was a first-come, first-served event, attracting many families eager to secure supplies for their children. One family, in particular, arrived before dawn for the event.
The 2024 Backpacks Bonanza was funded by various organisations, including the R.C. Durr Foundation, The Butler Foundation, Covington Rotary Club, Sofagives Charitable Fund, Scripps Howard Foundation, Western & Southern Financial Fund, St. Pius X Church in Edgewood, Friends of Northern Kentucky Harvest, TJ Johnson State Farm Insurance in Wilder, Read Ready Covington, St. Joseph Church in Cold Spring, and St. Timothy Church in Union.
In addition to the main event, various groups, such as Emburse, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Psi Lambda and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternities, the Linstead family, City of Covington, Brighton Center, Be Concerned, Covington Rotary, teachers and staff from Covington Holmes Middle School, and numerous other groups, were involved in making the event a success.
For those who wish to get involved or donate to Northern Kentucky Harvest's 2025 Backpacks Bonanza, there are several options. You can volunteer directly with Northern Kentucky Harvest, join supporting groups, or spread the word about the event on social media.
Donations are also welcome, and every dollar will be put directly towards school supplies. You can donate school supplies such as pens, markers, folders, and backpacks, or make a financial contribution to support the purchase of school supplies and backpacks. If you or your organisation is interested in sponsoring the event or a specific aspect of it, reach out to Northern Kentucky Harvest to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Donations are tax deductible, with Harvest's EIN being 31-1682076. By supporting this event, you can help make a significant difference in the lives of local students, preparing them for the upcoming school year. For more information on how to get involved or donate, please contact Northern Kentucky Harvest directly.
- The Backpacks Bonanza event in 2025, hosted by Northern Kentucky Harvest, will aim to distribute school supplies to local students in schools across Northern Kentucky, such as Covington, Grant, Pendleton, and Gallatin counties.
- To further support education-and-self-development in Northern Kentucky, individuals can volunteer with Northern Kentucky Harvest, join supporting groups, or make monetary donations to help purchase school supplies and backpacks for students.
- The 2025 Backpacks Bonanza event will benefit from various sponsors, including St. Pius X Church in Edgewood, The Butler Foundation, and the R.C. Durr Foundation, enabling them to continue their mission of providing school supplies to underprivileged students in the community.
