As children and teens across Westchester head back to school, we are celebrating another extraordinary Backpacks to School season and school supply drive. It was The Sharing Shelf’s 16th year helping students begin the school year prepared, confident and ready to learn.
And this year, our community showed up in a remarkable way.
On August 22, 2026, volunteers, families, and friends of The Sharing Shelf came together and, in about two hours, packed more than 1,000 backpacks with the school supplies children and teens will need in the classroom. The room was filled with energy, teamwork, and a shared determination to make sure students throughout Westchester can walk into school feeling ready.
Amid all that activity, one young volunteer stood out in particular. By the end of the morning, he had personally packed 67 backpacks. When asked whether his total was 65 or 66, he quickly corrected us, with the appropriate hand gesture and a very emphatic:
“Siiixx… seeeven!”
It was a funny moment, but also a wonderful reminder of what makes this day so special. Children, teens, parents, longtime volunteers, and first-time helpers all worked side by side, each doing their part for another child they may never meet.
To everyone who packed with The Sharing Shelf, hosted a supply drive, donated, sponsored backpacks, or helped behind the scenes: thank you.
For families already stretching household budgets to cover food, housing, clothing and other essentials, back-to-school expenses can create one more impossible choice. A new backpack filled with the right supplies may seem simple, but for a child it can mean walking into school feeling prepared instead of embarrassed, included instead of singled out, and ready to focus on learning.
Every backpack you helped fill sends a child an important message: You matter.
And to one particularly determined young volunteer: yes, we heard you…
Sixty-seven.