A New School Year Starts With A Community

By: Eric Jasson Rweikiza
All Nations International Development Agency
A New School Year Begins
For many children, the start of a new school year is exciting. It brings new teachers, new opportunities, and a fresh start. For many families, however, it also brings the added cost of backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and other school supplies. At ANIDA, we believe every child deserves to begin the school year with the tools they need to learn, take part, and feel prepared in the classroom.
Through our ANIDA Food Bank Back-to-School Hamper Drive, our local community comes together to help make that possible. As the cost of living continues to rise, many families are facing increased financial pressures. By working together, we can help ease some of that burden and ensure children have the supplies they need to begin the school year with confidence.
Last year, together, we supported 100–150 children. This year, we hope to provide more than 200 backpacks, extending our reach to even more children and families in our community.
More Than School Supplies
A backpack is more than something a child carries to school. It holds the supplies that help them feel confident alongside their classmates. Supporting families through the Back-to-School Hamper Drive helps ease some of the financial pressure that comes with preparing for a new school year.
More importantly, it helps children begin the year ready to focus on learning, build friendships and embrace the opportunities a new school year can bring.
A Community Effort
This campaign is made possible by people coming together. Individuals, businesses, churches, community organizations, and volunteers each play a role in helping children start the school year prepared.
Whether it is donating school supplies, organizing a collection drive, partnering with ANIDA, or making a financial contribution, every act of generosity helps move this campaign forward and extends its reach to more families. Together, these collective efforts help create a stronger, more connected community where children have the support they need to thrive.
Looking Ahead
As we prepare for another school year, we are grateful to everyone who continues to support this campaign.
Every backpack, every school supply, and every contribution help give a child the tools they need to learn with confidence. Together, we can help even more children start the school year ready to succeed.

About the Author:
Eric Jasson Rweikiza is the Donor Relations Intern at All Nations International Development Agency (ANIDA) and a Sociology Major graduate student at York University. He supports donor communication, storytelling, and strategic planning that connects donor support to community needs. He is excited to gain hands-on experience and learn how NGO work is carried out in real settings. He is especially interested in the space between a good mission and real results, and how strong systems and relationships make that gap smaller. He believes development work is strongest when it stays accountable to the people it serves and honest about what progress actually takes.