Miami Gardens community backpack drive helps families prepare for back-to-school season

Families in Miami Gardens received a helping hand ahead of the new school year as Unity on the Bay hosted its annual Community Backpack Drive, providing thousands of children with free school supplies, backpacks, and a day filled with fun.The event, held Saturday at 17800 Northwest 25th Avenue, brought together children and families for a back-to-school celebration featuring games, snacks, face painting, prizes, and a lively dance party where kids joined in on the Cha Cha Slide and enjoyed a bounce house.Before the celebration began, families lined up to receive backpacks filled with essential school supplies, including pencils, highlighters, folders, binders, crayons, and other classroom necessities. Children also enjoyed activities like Jenga, sweet treats and icy refreshments.“I got a backpack and an umbrella,” one girl while showing off some of the items received at the event.Another children shared excitement over the supplies they collected, including a book bag, highlighters, pencils, and a binder.This year marks the 21st year of Unity on the Bay’s Community Backpack Drive, an effort aimed at supporting children in underserved communities. The organization plans to distribute more than 4,000 backpacks to students locally in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as to children in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other communities.Several nonprofit organizations joined the effort, including Boys & Girls Club of Miami Gardens, Touching Miami with Love in Overtown and Homestead, and Pridelines.Organizers said the goal goes beyond providing school supplies — it is about helping families start the academic year with resources, encouragement, and a sense of community.

.l10-neighborhood, .l10-neighborhood * { box-sizing: border-box; } .l10-neighborhood{ --blue-dark:#0d2c73; --blue:#1f57c4; --blue-light:#3370e6; --gray-bg:#f2f3f5; --gray-border:#d6d8dc; --text-dark:#1a1a1a; --white:#ffffff; font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Arial,sans-serif; max-width:860px; margin:1.5rem auto; border-radius:10px; overflow:hidden; border:1px solid var(--gray-border); background:var(--gray-bg); box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,.12); text-align:center; } .l10-head{ background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--blue-dark),var(--blue)); color:var(--white); padding:12px 16px; font-weight:800; text-transform:uppercase; font-size:1rem; letter-spacing:.3px; display:… As the back-to-school season approaches, teachers, parents and students across South Florida are preparing for the year ahead. Several community events are underway to help families get the supplies they need before classes begin.At United Way Miami, dozens of volunteers gathered Saturday for the organization’s annual back-to-school drive.

Event organizers said between 75 and 100 volunteers from United Way Miami partner and sponsor organizations are packing nearly 1,000 backpacks with essential classroom supplies, including notebooks, pencils, folders, crayons and other materials.The effort aims to help ease the financial burden many families face as school costs continue to rise. School supplies can cost up to $150 per child, making it difficult for some households to afford everything students need to start the year prepared.The filled backpacks will be distributed next week to students across Miami-Dade County.United Way Miami leaders said the goal is not only to provide supplies but also to give students the confidence to walk into their classrooms ready to learn on the first day of school.“We want to make sure that parents aren’t having to make a decision between, ‘Do we buy a third meal or do I buy school supplies for the kids?’” United Way Miami vice president Ivette Diaz said. “This is our way, one of the many ways in which we support the community and the folks that we provide resources to.”Organizers said the backpack drive is one of several back-to-school initiatives planned this month.

The organization continues to work with local businesses, donors and volunteers to support students and families throughout Miami-Dade County.The backpack assembly event will continue through the morning, with volunteers working to fill each bag with the supplies students need to begin the school year on the right foot.