Backpack Drive

Brighter futures from the first day of school. 

At United Way, we are committed to making sure each student in our community has the tools and opportunities they need to maximize their academic potential. Our community’s support is at the heart of that commitment, helping further our mission to ensure each child is supported throughout the school year where they need it most.

Items donated to the 2027 Backpack Drive will be donated to students at United Way’s partner school, Mary Buren Elementary in Guadalupe, California. We are gathering new school supplies for students in transitional kindergarten through 6th grade, including:

• Backpacks (All Sizes, Youth)
• Notebooks and composition books
• Pencils, pens, crayons, and markers
• Glue sticks, scissors, and rulers
• Folders and binders
• Highlighters and index cards
• Calculator (basic and scientific)
• Lunchboxes and water bottles

Donation boxes will be available at the Vandenberg Space Force Base from July 16th – August 16th.

United Way of Santa Barbara County is building brighter futures for Santa Barbara County students and families by partnering with school districts and educators to identify and address key challenges, creating and delivering innovative solutions to develop school readiness and maximize academic potential.

Our Outcomes:

• Clear, supportive pathways and opportunities for academic achievement and lifelong learning.
• Collaborative, strong partnerships with school districts to effectively fill key service gaps for underserved populations.
• Consistently positive academic trajectories for students countywide, supported through key academic milestones with systemic and collaborative solutions at home and school.

Thank you!

Thanks to partners like Bechtel, United Way can continue its commitment to the thousands of children and families we serve together each year.

For questions about the drive, charitable giving campaign, or United Way, please reach out to our team at 805-965-8591 or via email at info@unitedwaysb.org.