Each year, thousands of families across Virginia face the challenge of purchasing the school supplies their children need to begin the academic year prepared. For many, the cost of backpacks, notebooks and classroom essentials creates an additional financial burden on top of everyday finances, that can pose a challenge for families.
Backpack Buddies, in Charlottesville, Virginia, works to address that challenge by providing backpacks and school supplies to thousands of students in need across the state. And it all began with a nine-year-old girl and a back-to-school shopping trip.
In the summer of 2010, Lucia Hoerr was shopping for supplies with her mom and older sister. While picking out fun notebooks, colorful binders and her new backpack, Hoerr’s mother reminded her and her sister of how lucky they are to be able to afford all these new supplies, sharing how not every child is able to get new ones each school year.
Shocked by the realization that many kids her age, and maybe even in her class, were having to go to school unprepared, Hoerr felt that she needed to do something about this. Being only nine, Hoerr wasn’t old enough to volunteer and didn’t have any money to donate; however, she was determined to figure out a way to make a change.
Taking the first step
After connecting with someone from the local Boys & Girls Club, Hoerr learned the issue was much bigger than she even thought, and there were no nonprofits working to help.
From there, she decided to gather her family, friends and some local teachers to collect backpacks and school supplies donations. That first summer, Hoerr, with the help of her community, filled and dropped off 61 backpacks to students and families in need.
“It really was a lightning bolt moment where I saw how much of an impact this was making,” Hoerr said. “I knew that Backpack Buddies was going to become an important thing in a lot of people’s lives.”
Now at 26 years old, Hoerr, founder and president of Backpack Buddies, has transformed it into something bigger than her nine-year-old self would have ever imagined.
Meeting a growing need
Backpack Buddies has gone from filling 61 backpacks to over 11,000. With a warehouse location in Charlottesville and partnerships with businesses and organizations, the nonprofit continues to grow and help provide for students in need.
Backpack Buddies has since expanded its reach and now provides backpacks and school supplies to students throughout Virginia. And this year, it received more requests for help than ever before.
“If a family were to go out and fill a backpack with supplies, it’s $100 or more,” Hoerr said. “We’re doing the best we can, but the need is ever growing, and we still are not even close to meeting it, even in the central Virginia area.”
For Hoerr, Backpack Buddies is about much more than raising money to fill backpacks with school supplies (though, check out this previous Phil feature to learn about one creative fundraising success).
It’s about the joy on a child’s face when they receive their supplies. It’s the thankfulness of families and teachers when Backpack Buddies can help relieve this financial burden. It’s watching young people fall in love with philanthropy and giving back the same way that she did when she was nine years old.
The power of community support
“Backpack Buddies functions so much more on its own now with people finding it without me reaching out,” Hoerr said. “Companies are wanting to do fundraisers that I’ve never even heard of, which five, 10 years ago never would have happened.”
There are multiple ways for those wanting to support Backpack Buddies cause.
First and foremost, Backpack Buddies needs supplies, but there are also volunteer opportunities to help fill the backpacks before school begins. For businesses looking to partner with Backpack Buddies, email the address listed on the website.
To learn more and how to get involved, visit the Backpack Buddies website.
