2023 Backpack Giveaways

2023 Backpack Giveaways

For the seventh year in a row, our outreach team will host FREE Backpack Giveaways to directly assist disadvantaged, school-aged youth obtain the basic tools they need to succeed.

At each of our hosted Backpack Giveaways, K-12 students must be present to receive a backpack stuffed with the following types of school supplies*:

  • Scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Colored pencils
  • Pocket folders
  • And, more!

Locations & Dates for 2023 Backpack Giveaways

We look forward to spending time with our community neighbors at the following FREE Backpack Giveaways and Back to School events in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Indiana, and Nevada! As supplies are limited, make sure that you get there early to pick up your backpack before they are gone.

Special notice: Backpacks will only be provided to K-12 school-aged students that attend one of the giveaways in person.


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July 19, 2023 — Yuma, Arizona from 3:00 p.m. until supplies last* | Yuma County Fairgrounds (2520 E 32nd St, Yuma, AZ 85365)

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Yuma Back to School Event Highlights

750 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away at this drive-up eventStudents must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Quantities are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Also, please stay in your vehicle and be mindful of others when entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

For more information about Lerner and Rowe’s FREE drive-up Yuma Backpack Giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette with Lerner and Rowe Gives Back at (928) 222-2222.

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July 20, 2023 — El Centro, California from 3:00 p.m. until supplies last* | IV Fairgrounds (200 E 2nd Street, Imperial, CA 92251)

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El Centro Back to School Event Highlights

750 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away at this drive-up eventStudents must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Quantities are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Also, please stay in your vehicle and be mindful of others when entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

For more information about Lerner and Rowe’s FREE drive-up El Centro Backpack Giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette with Lerner and Rowe Gives Back at (844) 977-1900.

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July 26, 2023 — Albuquerque, NM from 3:00 p.m. until supplies last* | Expo New Mexico Fairgrounds (300 San Pedro Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108)

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Albuquerque Back to School Event Highlights

1,000 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away at this drive-up eventStudents must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Quantities are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Also, please stay in your vehicle and be mindful of others when entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

For more information about Lerner and Rowe’s FREE drive-up Albuquerque Backpack Giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette with Lerner and Rowe Gives Back at (505) 544-4444.

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July 28, 2023 — Tucson, AZ from 3:00 p.m. until supplies last* | Pima County Fairgrounds (11300 S Houghton Rd., Tucson, AZ 85747)

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Tucson Back to School Event Highlights

750 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away at this drive-up eventStudents must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Quantities are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Also, please stay in your vehicle and be mindful of others when entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

For more information about Lerner and Rowe’s FREE drive-up Tucson Backpack Giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette with Lerner and Rowe Gives Back at (520) 977-1900.

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July 29, 2023 — Phoenix, AZ from 12:00 p.m. until all supplies last* | Metro Auto Auction parking lot (2475 S 59th Ave., Phoenix 85043)

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Phoenix Back to School Event Highlights

750 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away at this drive-up eventStudents must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Quantities are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Also, please stay in your vehicle and be mindful of others when entering and exiting the parking lot.

For more information about Lerner and Rowe’s FREE drive-up Phoenix Backpack Giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette with Lerner and Rowe Gives Back at (602) 977-1900.

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August 3, 2023 — Merrillville, IN from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Dean & Barbara White Community Center (6600 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410)

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Merrillville Back to School Event Highlights

1,000 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be given away at this FREE back to school event. Backpacks and school supplies are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Free hot dogs with chips and Kona Ice (snow cones) will also be available while supplies last.

Anyone interested in learning more about Lerner and Rowe’s FREE Merrillville Backpack Giveaway should contact Arianna Baiz by email at [email protected], or by phone at (708) 222-2222, ext. 6325.

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August 5, 2023 — Las Vegas, NV from 9:00 a.m. until all supplies last* | Ruben P. Diaz Elementary (4450 E Owens Ave., Las Vegas NV 89110)

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During this drive-up event our team will be giving away 1,000 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies! Backpacks and school supplies are limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

Anyone interested in learning more about Lerner and Rowe’s involvement at this FREE Las Vegas Backpack Giveaway should contact Guy Williams by email at [email protected], or by phone at (702) 858-9941.

*Please note: Backpacks and school supplies will be handed out while supplies last. Children must be present with an adult to collect a backpack.

2020 Tucson Backpack Giveaways

Back to School Events for Tucson Students

750 backpacks filled with school supplies were given away in Tucson, Arizona on August 15.

We are grateful for the assistance from GAP Ministries and their community partners to help distribute the backpacks at Ministerios Ammijezreel and the Family Christian Center.

We are also grateful to each of our team members that volunteered their time to help fill each backpack.

Mutual collaboration and a shared drive to give back and help others in the community is what helps make events like our Tucson backpack giveaway possible.


Photos of Tucson 2020 backpack preparation and giveaways:

IN/IL Backpack Giveaways

IN/IL Backpack Giveaways

Merrillville and Chicago Back to School Events

This past weekend our Lerner & Rowe team held two amazing Back to School Backpack Giveaway events! We were able to give away 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to the communities of Merrillville, IN and Chicago, IL. Our drive-thru style events proved to be successful in efficiently and safely getting backpacks to families.

Thank you to our amazing staff who came out to help. Thank you to our partners at the Chicago Police Department and staff of Richard J. Daley Elementary Academy for your assistance and donation of space. And thank you to the staff at Hidden Lake Park and Ross Township for all of the assistance your teams provided.

We hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, and healthy school year!


2020 Chicago and Merrillville drive-thru backpack giveaway photos:

Albuquerque Backpack Giveaway

2019 Albuquerque Back to School – Backpack Giveaway

We held our Albuquerque Back to School – Backpack Giveaway at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico. The event was a hit! 1,000 kids walked away with a backpack stuffed with school supplies just in time for the 2019-2020 school year.

Special thank you to all who attended and helped make this back to school event happen!!

 

 


Photos from the 2019 Albuquerque Backpack Giveaway:

 

Phoenix Backpack Giveaway

We had an amazing turnout for our 2019 Phoenix Backpack Giveaway! Thank you Kuban Elementary School for opening your doors to hosting the location, and to all of our team members and event volunteers who helped make the day possible.

It was a pleasure to meet each of the students and their family members who attended the event. Our team is beyond thrilled to have had the opportunity to give away 1,500 backpacks to assist local students prepare for the school year!!


Take a look at a few moments captured at our 2019 Phoenix Backpack Giveaway: