Each summer, as the school year approaches, millions of children in the United States prepare to return to classrooms. For many, this preparation includes trips to stores, new backpacks, sharpened pencils, and the promise of fresh notebooks.

But for others, the start of school arrives with anxiety, not anticipation. When families are already struggling to afford rent, groceries, or transportation, school supplies become a luxury.
This is the gap ICNA Relief’s Back2School Backpack Program was created to fill.

Since 2008, ICNA Relief has distributed over one million backpacks filled with supplies for students in need. But this program is not just about materials, it is about making sure every child starts the school year with the same opportunity to succeed.

The Hidden Cost of Showing Up Unprepared

When students enter school without the basic supplies they need, the effects reach far beyond the first day. Teachers are often the first to notice the signs, students borrowing paper, hesitant to participate, or disengaged from classwork. These aren’t just issues of access; they are issues of equity.

Educational equity means ensuring that every student enters the classroom on an equal footing, with the tools to succeed, not just the ones whose families can afford them. A pencil, a notebook, or a backpack might seem small, but for a student living in hardship, these items become symbols of exclusion versus inclusion.

This is where ICNA Relief’s approach stands out. Every distribution is designed not only to equip students, but to preserve their dignity. No child is made to feel like a charity case. Volunteers create festive environments. Distributions often include games, food, and sometimes even free haircuts or health screenings. The goal is to make each student feel seen and supported, not marked by need.

A Program Built by Volunteers, Powered by Donors

ICNA Relief’s Back2School program doesn’t operate from a distance. It works in partnership with local communities, masjids, schools, community centers, and grassroots organizations across the country.

In 2024 alone, ICNA Relief reached over 300 locations nationwide. From urban neighborhoods to rural communities, each distribution is shaped by local needs and led by volunteers who often live in the same zip codes as the families they serve.

These events are also powered by donors who recognize that giving to education means investing in the future of their own communities. A $35 donation sponsors a full backpack and supplies for one student. That donation does more than fill a bag. It reassures a child who may feel anxious. It tells a struggling parent that they are not alone.

In communities where poverty is compounded by displacement, immigration challenges, or the aftermath of disaster, the need for school readiness becomes even more urgent. Many families reached by the program are refugees or newcomers who are navigating a new school system for the first time. For them, a backpack isn’t just practical, it’s a point of connection