United Way Central Alberta seeks backpack donations for Tools for School
With classes set to resume in a few weeks, organizers are asking Red Deer-area residents to fill and donate backpacks for students in need.
Why it matters
The campaign helps ensure Central Alberta students from low-income families have the supplies they need to start the school year on equal footing.
United Way Central Alberta is running its annual Tools for School campaign as the start of the school year approaches, aiming to remove a barrier that can keep children from succeeding in the classroom. The program provides backpacks and supplies to students from kindergarten through Grade 12 whose families have limited resources.
This year, organizers are specifically requesting completed backpacks rather than individual items. Residents are encouraged to fill a new backpack with needed supplies, which can include headphones and specific graphing calculators such as the TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus, depending on the student's grade level.
Completed backpacks or purchased supplies can be dropped off at the United Way Central Alberta office at 4828 53 Street, Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those unable to shop can donate online through the organization's website, and from July 6 to September 28, 2026, shoppers at local Staples locations can add a Tools for School donation to their purchase.
Families needing school supplies can access the program through Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer Catholic Schools, and participating community agencies including Big Brothers Big Sisters Red Deer, BGC Red Deer, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lacombe, Care for Newcomers, and CASA Mental Health. Those requiring assistance can email alexis@caunitedway.ca.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.