How School Tools Helps Thousands of Greenville County Students Start Strong
Long before the first backpack is handed out, the line begins to form.
As the sun rises over Carolina High School, hundreds of Greenville County families are already waiting. Some have been there since the early morning hours, hoping to make sure their children will have everything they need for the first day of school.
It’s a powerful sight.
For many families in Greenville County, a backpack filled with notebooks, pencils, folders and other classroom essentials represents far more than school supplies. It represents one less bill during one of the most expensive times of the year. It means a child can walk into the classroom feeling prepared and confident instead of worrying about what they don’t have.
This year, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, our School Tools project provided 4,100 students with brand-new backpacks filled with the supplies they need for the year.
The smiles are always one of the best parts of School Tools day.
Children eagerly unzip their new backpacks to peek inside, while parents breathe a visible sigh of relief knowing one major back-to-school expense has been taken care of. Throughout the event, volunteers help distribute backpacks, serve food, direct families to community resources and cheer children on as they enjoy the back-to-school carnival made possible by Dodge Industrial.
Those joyful moments are what keep so many volunteers coming back year after year. For some, however, School Tools is even more personal.
Melody, a United Way volunteer, remembers what it was like to stand in this line when her children were in school. Years later, she returns to pay it forward and help another generation of students begin the school year with confidence.
Her story reflects what makes School Tools so special. It’s more than a one-day event. It’s neighbors helping neighbors. It’s a community investing in its children and the importance we place on education and caring for each other.
Vanessa Campana, a bilingual volunteer from Michelin North America, has spent the past three years helping Spanish-speaking families navigate the event.
“Seeing the kids' faces and smiles is probably why I'm here," she said. “It can feel small, like a backpack, but it can mean a lot. It's a good way to start the year, and they can feel excited and motivated to go back to school."
Behind every backpack is an incredible network of support. Local businesses, community groups and hundreds of volunteers united over the summer to collect supplies, pack backpacks, write encouraging notes and spend hours prepping for distribution day.
“Preparing for a new school year can place a real strain on families already working hard to make ends meet,” said United Way President and CEO Meghan Barp. “Their generosity means thousands of students will walk into the classroom with the supplies they need to learn and thrive, while giving parents one less financial burden to worry about as the school year begins.”
The line weaving and stretching along the sidewalk outside Carolina High School serves as an important reminder: The need in our community is real.
So is the willingness of Greenville County to meet it.
By 10 a.m., thanks to the hard work and efficiency of our volunteers, the line had dissipated and later-arriving families received walk-up service. For Clemson University’s Julio Hernandez, community impact committee chair with United Way’s board of directors, School Tools is a powerful reminder of what happens when the people of Greenville County work together.
“Having families see that we have a community rally around their success, it’s just a good way to start a new school year,” Hernandez said. “One of the best parts of volunteering is just seeing how the community comes together and we’re all taking ownership of our community’s success. To be able to see the families, to see the faces of the families we serve, it just lights up my heart.”
To every sponsor, donor, volunteer and community partner who made this year’s School Tools project possible: thank you for helping thousands of Greenville County students begin the school year feeling loved, supported and ready to succeed.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING SCHOOL TOOLS 2026 A HUGE SUCCESS!
