LifeSTEPS Provides Over 2,000 Youth with Backpacks Filled with School Supplies

More than 2,000 youth enrolled in LifeSTEPS’ After School Program started this school year with confidence thanks to brand new backpacks filled with essential school supplies provided by LifeSTEPS.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for educational books and supplies have increased 9.4% over the past year. Higher costs for essentials like notebooks, art supplies, calculators, backpacks, and basic supplies mean families must either pay more or go without. For low-income households, these rising prices often lead to difficult choices such as skipping essentials like food, prescriptions, or utilities to afford back-to-school items.

Each summer, LifeSTEPS helps address this need by providing youth with new backpacks filled with school supplies through our Summer Reading Program, an extension of our After School Program. Every backpack is made possible by the generosity of our donors and partners who believe in the power of education and opportunity.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to this year’s supporters including the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Sacramento Literacy Foundation, the City of San José, our dedicated partners at USA Properties Fund and the JB Brown Fund, and our generous community members. Because of your support, students across California received the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

At LifeSTEPS, 100% of all donations goes directly toward supporting children’s educational growth from backpacks and books to hands-on learning experiences. Our After School Programs, held onsite at affordable housing communities, provide a safe and supportive environment where children can learn, explore, and thrive while their parents work toward stability.

Together, with the support of our partners and community, we are leveling up futures one backpack, one book, and one student at a time.

You can help continue this impact. Join us in supporting our annual backpack drive by making a contribution today! Every donation helps ensure that no child begins the school year without the supplies or the confidence they need to succeed.