Students across Central Alabama headed back to the classroom better prepared for the school year thanks to the generosity of donors, volunteers and community partners who supported United Way Hands On’s 2026 Back-to-School Drive.
United Way Hands On, the volunteer center of United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA), organized the annual effort, bringing together individuals, companies and community organizations to provide backpacks, classroom essentials and other school supplies to students and educators throughout UWCA’s six-county service area.
This year, the community contributed more than 7,000 donations with an in-kind value of more than $20,000, helping ensure students had the tools they needed to begin the school year ready to learn.
Throughout the summer, Hands On worked with schools and community organizations to identify needs and distribute donated supplies where they could make an immediate difference.
Community members had several ways to participate, including making financial contributions, purchasing items from an online wishlist and dropping off new school supplies at locations throughout Central Alabama.
“Every backpack, notebook and school supply represents someone in our community choosing to support a student,” said UWCA’s Director of Volunteer Engagement Rachael Upton. “When people come together in this way, we can help make sure more students walk into the classroom with the supplies they need to focus on learning and start the school year strong.”
Volunteers Put Support Into Action
The Back-to-School Drive extended beyond collecting supplies. Hands On also connected volunteers with local schools for beautification projects designed to create welcoming spaces for students and educators.
Volunteers worked on garden beds, completed landscaping projects and made other improvements identified by school leaders.
New this year, United Way partnered with Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA) for a Back-to-School Day of Action. BUSA players, coaches and family members donated 64 backpacks filled with school supplies and volunteered at local schools before students returned to the classroom.
The partnership provided another opportunity for families and young people to serve together while helping students start the school year with needed supplies and creating cleaner, brighter and more welcoming school spaces.
Alabama FC Executive Director Andrew Brower said the drive was an important way to teach players how they can help others and strengthen their communities.
“We believe it is important to teach our players and membership the importance of helping others by working together to better people, schools and communities in our area,” Brower said.
A Community Effort
For many families, purchasing a full list of school supplies can add another financial challenge at the start of a new school year. Teachers also frequently spend their own money to make sure their classrooms have the materials students need.
By bringing together donors, volunteers, businesses and community partners, the Back-to-School Drive helped ease some of that burden while showing students and educators that their community is behind them.
“Whether someone donated supplies, gave financially or volunteered their time at a school, each person played a part in helping students and educators start the year with the support of their community behind them,” Rachael said.
The 2026 Back-to-School Drive is one of the many ways United Way works alongside the community to help students start school prepared, confident and ready to succeed.
To learn more about United Way Hands On and how you can get involved, click here.