Annual Education Access Initiative
Removing Barriers Before the First Bell Rings
School readiness is more than supplies. Every August, More Than A Smile Foundation works alongside Louisville's immigrant and refugee families to ensure every child starts the year equipped, connected, and confident.
500+
Backpacks distributed annually
5+
Community partners involved
2
Years running the program
12+
Nationalities represented
About the Initiative
Education access starts before day one
For many families in our community, the cost of back-to-school supplies is a real barrier. Backpacks, notebooks, pencils, folders, calculators — the list adds up fast, and for families still finding their footing in a new country, it can feel impossible.
Our Annual Fun & Play Back-to-School Celebration removes that barrier entirely. We partner with local businesses, schools, and donors to distribute hundreds of fully stocked backpacks — alongside family resource navigation, health connections, and community support — free of charge, no questions asked.
School readiness includes supplies, hygiene, clothing, family resource navigation, health connections, and confidence. We address all of it. Because a child who feels prepared and seen is a child who shows up ready to learn.
Packed with care
Every backpack assembled by volunteers
Inside Every Backpack
What's in every backpack
Each backpack is packed with age-appropriate supplies chosen to cover the essentials for a full school year.
In the Community
Moments from past giveaways
A morning full of smiles
Hundreds of hours of volunteer work
Ready for day one
Community showing up for community
My son carried that backpack every single day of the school year. He was so proud. It wasn't just supplies — it was confidence.
— Parent, 2024 Giveaway
Get Involved
Three ways to make it happen
Donate Supplies
Drop off new school supplies at our collection points throughout Louisville each July and August. Every item counts — even a single pack of pencils makes a difference.
Find a drop-off locationGive Financially
A $25 donation fully stocks one backpack. A $250 donation equips ten children. Your gift goes directly to purchasing supplies for families who need them most.
Donate nowVolunteer
We need volunteers to sort donations, pack backpacks, set up the event, and distribute supplies on the day. It's a few hours that will stay with you for years.
Sign up to volunteerFor funders & grant reviewers
Back-to-School Giveaway — Program Summary
The information below is structured to support grant applications, funder due diligence, and partnership inquiries. For a full conversation, please reach out directly.
Children from immigrant and refugee families in Louisville disproportionately begin the school year without adequate supplies, creating an immediate barrier to classroom participation and signaling to children that they are already behind. The back-to-school period is a high-stress time for families managing limited budgets and unfamiliar school systems.
Children ages 5–18 from immigrant and refugee families in Louisville, primarily from Somali, Somali Bantu, and East African communities. Families are identified through the Foundation's existing community relationships and partner referrals.
South Louisville (Shawnee, Wyandotte, Parkland) and West End. Distribution events are held in accessible community locations.
- Annual backpack and school supply distribution event (every August)
- Volunteer recruitment and backpack assembly
- Community celebration alongside distribution — food, activities, and connection
- Referrals to school enrollment support and family resource navigation
- Supply drives and corporate/community donation coordination
Annual event held each August, timed to align with JCPS back-to-school calendar. Planning and supply collection begins in May–June. Volunteer mobilization in July–August.
Participation and outcome data will be published following the 2026 program cycle. The giveaway has distributed hundreds of backpacks annually and engaged dozens of volunteers each year.
- Children begin the school year with the supplies they need to participate fully
- Families feel welcomed and supported by their community
- Volunteers and donors experience meaningful connection to the immigrant and refugee community
- Families are connected to additional Foundation programs and partner resources
- School readiness barriers are reduced for the most under-resourced children
Participation and outcome data will be published following the 2026 program cycle. The event has grown each year since its founding and is a signature community touchpoint for the Foundation.
- Lithia 4 Kids
- Good Sports
- Delta Dental
- JCPS school partners
- Local faith communities and corporate donors
Additional investment would increase the number of backpacks distributed, expand the supply list to include grade-specific materials, fund a family resource fair alongside the giveaway, and support volunteer coordination and event logistics.
Amina Shale, Executive Director — [email protected] | 502-956-1414
Ready to invest in this program? We welcome site visits, due-diligence calls, and partnership conversations.
Help us reach every child
The giveaway happens every August, but the work starts months earlier. Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply spread the word — you are part of making it possible.