The Back-to-School Backpack Drive in an annual Council 13904 Community / Family activity that collects backpacks, school supplies, and monetary donations for distribution to disadvantaged kids in the Nashua NH area.  The drive is held in mid-July and the school supplies are distributed in early August through the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter (NSKS).

Planning for the drive starts in early June, during which time we coordinate with NSKS for current K - 12 school supply needs, coordinate with Immaculate Conception Church for print, e-mail and web advertising, and set up a website for online donations.   We collected backpacks and school supplies from 7/18 - 8/3 this year, together with monetary donations and gift cards.   The 2025 Drive collected 110 backpacks, loads of school supplies for all grades, and over $2,500 in monetary donations, which we then delivered to NSKS for sorting, purchase of additional school supplies, and distribution,   Several Knights also volunteered for sorting and distribution on donated supplies and backpacks at NSKS (attached photo). 

This annual Drive is very important to our council because it it a way to help the underprivileged youth in our community and help families support the education of their kids.  We have a lot of fathers and grandfathers who care deeply about kids, and in executing this drive we strengthen our fraternal bonds while doing the Lord's work.  Several of us miss the old "Youth" program focus, and this activity helps us maintain it.   It also is appreciated by the ICC parish community, as demonstrated by their generous donations this year and prior years.