BRHP 2025 Back to School Supply Drive: Preparing This Years Students for Success 

Each year we look forward to our back-to-school supply drive, and each year we’re able to help more families set their children up for success. BRHP helps thousands of families move from areas of concentrated poverty to resource-rich communities.  With opportune housing comes opportune education, and this month we strive to continue to help our families thrive through academic achievement. 

This program has been nothing but a blessing to me and my children and is truly appreciated. – Lebria M., BRHP participant and school supply recipient

The United Way Organization  reports that over 16 million students across the country lack the school supplies they need to help make their year successful. This means that one in every four students cannot afford supplies. Without adequate materials, this impacts students’ ability to perform well in school and can increase absenteeism.  

BRHP uses this time to provide quality school supplies for families in our program. BRHP established a back-to-school supply drive in 2020 and since then we’ve held a drive every new school year. Once again, school supplies were distributed to families throughout our service area at distribution locations in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties. BRHP is excited to report that we distributed over 700 bookbags filled with supplies and all ready to go to elementary, middle and high school students.  

I’m so thankful and blessed for all the help. Thank you for all you do BRHP.   – Kia B., BRHP participant and school supply recipient

According to CapitalOne Back to School Shopping data, in 2024 the average household spent a total of $586 on back-to-school supplies for just one child and is expected to spend the same amount in 2025. On top of that, household back-to-school budgets decreased $15.39 or 1.73% year-over-year. Overall, many families have geared their finances in other places this year. This means that with the higher cost of materials some students struggle to get what they need. 

With the right school supplies, students can depend on what’s inside their backpack to set them up for success on their first day of school. School supplies provide hands-on learning, foster creative classroom environments, and promote equality. Supplies like notebooks and pencils allow students to engage in educational material being presented in the classroom. Back to school drives address educational inequality in the classroom and drives like this bridge the gap in disparities.  We hope that the school supplies will make an impact on students’ success as they start the new school year. 

The BHRP team worked tirelessly over the course of August to fill hundreds of backpacks and load them for distribution. This year, BRHP also gave away elementary grade and chapter books while distributing supplies at local Maryland libraries. Many families told BRHP staff at the distribution events that their children were eager to start reading new books and preparing for the school year. Customer Care Representative, Breanna Daley, who assisted at the distribution in Catonsville, shared her perspective of the back-to-school event, “It ensures that each child has their own set of supplies, no need to share or go without. That independence can make a big difference in their confidence and ability to succeed in the classroom. It’s not just about the supplies, it’s about equity, opportunity, and support for the whole family.”  

BRHP would like to thank everyone who made this back-to-school supply giveaway happen! Thank you to our staff, volunteers and donors who made it possible for BRHP to purchase over $20,000 worth of school supplies and books. Our thanks also go out to the libraries – Anne Arundel Library System Odenton Branch, Baltimore County Library System Catonsville and Essex Branches, and Howard County Library System Miller Branch – that allowed BRHP to host distributions in their spaces. We couldn’t have done this without you.   

Written by: Savanah Winn, Communications Associate