Backpacks in Every Corner of Buncombe County

Thanks to your generosity and the incredible work of our volunteers, thousands of fully stocked backpacks made their way into the hands of students all across Buncombe County—and even beyond. From big distribution events to smaller neighborhood gatherings, every delivery meant one thing: students starting the school year with confidence and care.

Together, we not only reached our goal—we surpassed it. Thanks to your generosity and the dedication of our volunteers, we packed and distributed 2,866 fully stocked backpacks and 70 Case•It binders across Buncombe County, including a big delivery to Asheville Middle School.

And here’s the best part: every single one of those backpacks was packed by volunteers. Over the course of July, 200 volunteers gave 592 hours of their time to make sure students had what they needed for the year ahead. From unwrapping pallets and counting supplies to carefully packing and organizing thousands of bags, our volunteers brought energy, focus, and joy to every step. We are constantly impressed by this incredible community, and the 2025 School Supply Drive showed exactly why.

This gallery highlights just a few of the places where backpacks landed, including La Milpa, Horizons Summer Program, Asheville City Schools, and Children First/Communities In Schools. At each stop, there were smiles, laughter, and plenty of gratitude. One especially heartwarming moment happened at Horizons with Carolina Day School: after finishing their summer performances, students and families gathered in the courtyard with ice cream and treats—and just as much excitement to choose the backpack that would carry them into the new school year.

We were also thrilled to capture moments of our Community School Coordinators picking up backpacks to stock their school resource rooms. These supplies will be on hand throughout the year to meet students’ needs as they arise, ensuring support doesn’t stop on the first day of school.

We know the best way to ensure students receive supplies without barriers is through partnership. By working with dozens of youth-serving organizations across our county, we’re able to meet families where they are. It speaks not only to the strength of our local network, but also to UWABC’s deep connections in the community.

Scroll down to see the full list of partners who helped distribute supplies—and enjoy these snapshots of the joy you made possible.

View the Full Distribution Partner List