Operation Backpack · Phoenix Family
Help kids start school ready — not embarrassed.
A backpack may seem small. To a child who doesn't have one, or who watches everyone else unpack new supplies while theirs are borrowed or broken, it shapes how the whole year begins.
80%
of educators say school supplies directly impact a child's confidence.
89%
of students without supplies are less likely to participate in class.
81%
are less likely to stay engaged in learning without what they need.
When a child shows up without what everyone else has, they pull back. They go quiet. They start to feel like they don't belong.
Why This Matters
No child should start the school year already feeling singled out.
"Those details matter more than we think — a backpack that zips, pencils that aren't borrowed, notebooks that are theirs."
School supplies shape how a child walks into the classroom on the first day. When they have what they need from the start, they can focus on learning — not on what's missing.
Operation Backpack gets supplies into the hands of children in Phoenix Family communities before the first day of school, so they walk in prepared and ready to belong.
Take Action
Three ways to help.
Donate supplies
Purchase new school supplies and drop them off at Phoenix Family by August 4, or ship items directly from a wish list — they go straight to us.
Lead a supply drive
Host a drive with your company, church, civic group, or neighborhood. We've built a toolkit to make organizing easy — no experience needed.
Give to fund supplies
Your gift helps Phoenix Family purchase backpacks and the exact supplies children need — getting them into kids' hands before the first day of school.
Program Details
Everything you need to know before you help.
All the logistics in one place so you can step in with confidence.
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Supply deadline: All supplies must be collected by August 3, 2026.
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Drop-off location: Phoenix Family · 3908 Washington St. · Kansas City, MO 64111
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Ship supplies directly: Order from the Amazon Wish List or Walmart Wish List — items ship straight to Phoenix Family.
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Organizing a drive? Download the toolkit to get everything you need to run a drive with your group.
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Questions? Email Laurel or call 816.616.8917.