Every year, United Way Northumberland is dedicated to ensuring that children and families across our community have the school supplies they need to succeed. Our Backpacks for Kids program provides backpacks filled with essential items to students from JK/SK to high school, ages 4 to 17.
This community program is brought to you through the generous sponsorship of Northumberland County Social Services and Northumberland United Way, along with incredible support from local business sponsors, dedicated individuals, and community donation drives. It truly is a community effort that demonstrates the power of neighbors helping neighbors.
This year, we’re focusing particularly on our early readers because research shows that literacy in the early years is a critical stepping stone for lifelong literacy success. By grade 3, more than one in every three Ontario students fail to meet the provincial standards for reading and writing, making early intervention and support crucial for setting children up for academic success.
“Children in low socioeconomic communities are almost 2× as likely to be behind in early development skills as high-socioeconomic status peers.”
(Source: Pan-Canadian Public Health Network)
This program wouldn’t be possible without local champions who take action. A heartfelt thank you to Sarah Turck of Sherwood Mortgage Broker, who hosted a full-day donation drive outside Giant Tiger in Port Hope. We also want to recognize CPK Port Hope for their donation of early reader books, reusable water bottles, and school supplies. Additional drives are being hosted by Palisade Gardens and Roseglen Retirement Village — thank you for being part of this important work.
If you’re interested in organizing a community drive or making a donation to support this vital program, please call our office at 905-372-6955. Together, we can help ensure every child starts the school year supported, equipped, and seen.
Initially launched through a partnership with Staples Business Depot in Cobourg, Backpacks for Kids has grown into one of United Way Northumberland’s most impactful and enduring programs. Thanks to the generosity of partners like Northumberland County, Cameco, Ganaraska Financial Credit Union, The Ryan Huffman Foundation, Port Hope Rotary Club, Sabic, Cobourg Lions Community Centre, Northumberland Food 4 All, Northumberland Labour Council, Colborne Rotary, Elexicon Energy, and more, the program continues to thrive.
Led by Executive Director Alicia Vandine and Communications Coordinator April Day, the program is designed to ensure every child across Northumberland County starts the school year ready to learn and grow. The cost of preparing each backpack ranges from $25 to $80, depending on age-specific needs — but each one represents a bigger investment: in confidence, dignity, and possibility.
We’re excited to introduce two new enhancements that reflect the evolving needs of families in our community: literacy tools and oral health resources. In partnership with Staples Cobourg, we’ve added early readers and flash cards to backpacks for JK, SK, and Grade 1 students, helping to strengthen early literacy at home. Research shows that children from lower-income households face significant challenges in literacy development — and we want to help close that gap early.
We’re also working with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit to include oral health tools for all grades. These include toothbrushes, magnets, healthy snack cards, and colouring books for our youngest learners. These new additions are part of our broader vision: to ensure that each backpack isn’t just a student resource — but a caregiver resource too.
“I have three kids and being a single Mom on a budget is hard, especially during back-to-school time. My kids absolutely loved their backpack and supplies and if it wasn’t for this program I wouldn’t have been able to afford all of these items. Thanks so much for having such an amazing program!”
“I would like to thank the sponsors who supported United Way to help families like mine. We have been raising four grandchildren for the last five years and the Backpacks for Kids program was a great help this year. The children were very happy, and it was a surprise to have new backpacks for starting school. Thank you from my four grandchildren and me.”
“Thank you for doing the Backpacks for Kids program. You have no idea how much our clients appreciate it.”
We acknowledge that United Way Northumberland is situated on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Ojibway/Chippewa peoples. As settlers, we’re grateful for the opportunity to live and work on this land and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land – for thousands of years.
Today’s the day! Join us for our 4th annual Radiothon presented by Cobourg KIA, broadcasting live on Classic Rock 107.9, 93.3 myFM, and Oldies 100.9. We’re bringing the excitement to you from Lauria Hyundai in Port Hope and The Market & Smør in Cobourg. Your support directly benefits the Northumberland Eats Voucher Program and other essential programs. Tune in now and be part of the positive impact!
