Last week, the Seventh Annual Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive brought together community leaders, volunteers and business partners to ensure students are prepared for the upcoming academic year.

Since its inception, the drive, held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, has distributed over 112,000 backpacks to Richmond school students. This year’s event was supported by Estes Express Lines, Packaging Corporation of America, VCU Alumni, Dominion Energy and Target. It was presented by CoStar Group and hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University.

Richmond Superintendent Jason Kamras highlighted the financial relief the event offers to families.

“Preparing students to return back to school can create a huge financial burden for families, and so to be able to partner with the businesses and organizations here today, and relieve some of that stress for our families, is incredible,” Kamras said.

Volunteers at the event packed supplies into backpacks, which were then delivered to schools by partners such as Estes Express Lines.

“Estes is proud to be a partner of this important back-to-school event,” said Will Hupp, Director of Hub Operations at Estes Express Lines. “We’re doing what we do best by delivering the school supplies to area schools to make sure everyone has what they need to start the new school year off strong.”

Seventh District School Board Representative Cheryl Burke reflected on the drive’s origins and its ongoing impact.

“The Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive started as a dream that no child in Richmond Public Schools should worry about having the supplies they need to succeed,” Burke said. “We are so grateful for CoStar Group, VCU, and the broader Richmond community for coming together, year after year, to make this dream a reality.”

Students and staff return to classrooms on Monday, Aug. 19.