Cheeriodicals backpacks are filled with essential items that help children in under-resourced communities go back to school confidently and prepared.

By Sarah Kathryn Flynt
Event Manager, Cheeriodicals

Children Face Difficult Challenges in School

The first day of school for a primary school student is often one of the most exciting days of the school year.  Taking that first school bus ride, meeting a new teacher, and checking out the playground equipment at recess are just a few of the fun things young students look forward to.  

Unfortunately, for the 15 million children living in extreme poverty in the US, those ‘first-day of school joys’ can be overshadowed by the stress of not having the necessary school supplies.  

Not having the necessary resources for the classroom is stressful not only for the child, but also for the teacher who often resorts to spending their own money to purchase school supplies. In 2022, teachers spent on average $860.00 of their own money in an effort to provide enough classroom supplies for their students. This amount has increased 14% since 2021.  

While these school supplies are necessary for a teacher to provide engaging instruction to a student, they also create a sense of belonging and level the playing field so that all students have an opportunity for a fulfilling education experience. 

How can your corporate team support teachers and students at under-resourced schools?

Back to School Backpacks – Benefitting Future Scholars

Our Back to School backpacks make it easy for your corporate team to come alongside and support teachers and “future scholars” at under-resourced schools. (Thank you to Principal Burney at Henry J. Oliver Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama for informing us that the children aren’t only students, they are “future scholars”!) 

Our Cheeriodicals team works with educators at elementary schools across the nation to choose the appropriate school supplies to include in a backpack for a kindergarten or 1st grade student. Each backpack includes items such as:  

• Clear backpack
• Crayons, Markers, and Colored Pencils
• Three Ring Binder
• Folders
• Writing Paper
• Pencils and Erasers
• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• Headphones
• and so much more!

Our goal is for each child to arrive on the first day armed with the tools they need to walk into their new classroom confident, prepared, and ready to learn.  The sturdy, clear plastic backpack is also in compliance with most schools’ new backpack safety policy, and allows the students to easily see all of their fun, new school supplies.

The Impact for Students and Their Families

A young boy tells what he is the most excited about for his first day of school as he receives his new backpack of supplies.  Photo credit: Nathan Watson, Bham Now

The Back to School backpack is a new offering from Cheeriodicals for 2023.

This summer alone we facilitated a donation of 2,500 backpacks to underserved communities. Our first in person delivery ever was to Henry J. Oliver Elementary School in Birmingham, AL. The Cheeriodicals team was eager to see the reaction from the students and teachers. 

Just as we hoped, the impact was huge!

Cheeriodicals backpacks bring excitement and joy to both students and their families as they start the new school year.

According to Tamara Burney, Principal of Oliver Elementary School, “…[w]ith these backpacks, our scholars are truly ready for their first day of school. Their parents don’t have to worry about making sure their children have enough pencils and paper; they have everything they need to be successful on their very first day. I want to make sure that every child has what they need to succeed here at Oliver Elementary, and this gift means so much to us.”

Cheeriodicals Backpacks ensure that children are able to start their new school year confidently and equipped with all of the necessary items they need to succeed.  

Kids get excited about all of their new, brightly colored school supplies, while parents appreciate the relief of not having to purchase the costly items needed for their children to start school.  

Schools also appreciate the generosity of backpacks and supplies, as oftentimes children come to school without all the necessary tools to learn. The school, and sometimes teachers themselves, then feel the responsibility to provide the needed items. 

The Impact for Your Team

Bringing your company together to make an impact in the community can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can plan for your team.  

We recently worked with Sonic Automotive and EchoPark on a team building event to provide Back to School backpacks to 2,500 elementary students at 37 under-resourced schools nationwide.  

The impact was tremendous.  Not only was it a way to unite the different dealerships across the country, but many of the teams were able to personally deliver backpacks to a local elementary school and experience first hand the joy their donation was bringing to the student, families, and schools.

Bonding your team over a service project, such as our Backpack Giveback, unites coworkers over a meaningful mission, encourages a positive workplace culture, and boosts morale for employees.  

In addition to impacting the community in a meaningful way, this philanthropic activity also strengthens corporate culture and creates memories for your employees that will last for years to come.

Cheeriodicals: How Our Team Building Events Work

Cheeriodicals hosts in person, virtual, and hybrid team building events with several branding options for corporate teams.

Our Cheeriodicals team building events are designed in a way that your corporate team can be the heroes of the day for students in your local community!   

In fact, your team will be the ones to pack the backpacks and make the impact.  Cheeriodicals leads your team through the assembly of the backpacks and handles all the behind the scene details, so your team can focus on fun and giving back!

Our Cheeriodicals team building events include:

• An exciting, hour-long assembly event
• Kit Supplies
• Assembly Instructions
• Inspirational Presentation
• Guest Speakers from benefiting elementary school 
• Event Photos
• Onsite Cheeriodicals Event Manager
• Branding Opportunities 
• Option to attend the backpack donation delivery
• And more!

To top it off, in many cases members of your team can even participate in the delivery of the backpacks afterwards to the elementary school of your choice.

Leading up to the event day, Cheeriodicals works closely with your corporate team to help plan all of the exciting event details, including how to choose the local elementary school that will be the best fit for your donation.  We handle all of the behind the scenes logistics, such as delivery details, backpack contents and supplies, and even transportation of the donation as well. 

Watch this highlight video from our recent event with Regenxbio and see the magic of our events for yourself! 

Not only do our events impact the community, they are highly rewarding for your team and create a bonding experience and memories that will last for years to come.

Curious about Cheeriodicals?

We conduct corporate team building events for teams of 20 – 1,500+ attendees across the United States and Canada. Contact corporateplanner@cheeriodicals.com to see how we can help your corporate team make a difference for those in need of a lift in spirits near you! 

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